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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 20) received notification from the Hospital Authority of a case of renal disease with history of consumption of a milk product adulterated with melamine.
A CHP spokesman said the case involved a three-and-a-half-year-old girl living in Hung Hom. The girl did not have symptoms. As she had consumed two to three cups (about six ounces per cup) of "Yili" brand high calcium low fat milk beverage daily for the past 15 months, her parents took her to Tseung Kwan O Clinic for medical checkup yesterday.
The product concerned was earlier found by the Centre for Food Safety to have been adulterated with melamine, a chemical that could cause kidney stones leading to renal failure among children.
Medical professionals of Tseung Kwan O Clinic found a renal stone in the girl¡¦s left kidney and arrangement was made for her to receive further treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital today. She has been discharged.
The spokesman said the CHP had sent letters to all medical practitioners reminding them to report cases of renal disease among children suspected to be related to the consumption of melamine adulterated milk products for investigation.
The CHP has set up a hotline 2125 1133 to provide health advice to the public. The hotline will be manned by public health professionals from 10 am to 5 pm tomorrow and from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday.
"The government is closely monitoring the situation and will keep the public informed about the latest development," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) reiterated its appeal to people not to consume milk and milk products that were found to contain melamine. Information on these products can be found on CFS's website www.cfs.gov.hk.
For related enquiries, members of the public can also call CFS's enquiry number 2381 6096 which operates from 9 am to 9 pm daily.
Ends/Saturday, September 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:32
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