*************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 23) did not receive any report from the Hospital Authority and private doctors of renal problems related to consumption of melamine tainted milk products, a CHP spokesman said.
In the 24 hours to 1pm today, the CHP hotline 2125 1133 received 27 enquiries from members of the public, and this brings to 10,004 the number of calls received by the hotline since it was set up on September 21.
"A total of 3,500 callers claimed that they or their children had consumed milk products which were confirmed to have been adulterated with melamine, and 1,022 of the affected people, 545 males and 477 females aged from 1 to 71, claimed to have symptoms of renal problems including dysuria and changes in the frequency of urination.
"They have been advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ascertain if they were suffering from renal disease," the spokesman said.
The remaining 6,504 callers had no history of exposure to melamine adulterated milk products and just asked for general health advice.
The CHP hotline, which operates from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, caters for individuals who have consumed milk products contaminated with melamine or those who are experiencing renal symptoms.
Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:30
NNNN
