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The Department of Health (DH) called on members of the public to be vigilant against food-borne infections following the confirmation of a cholera case today (July 15).

The patient is a 76-year-old woman who developed watery diarrhoea on July 8. She was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on July 11. Her stool specimen yielded positive result for cholera and the strain type was identified as Ogawa today. She is now in stable condition.

DH's investigations revealed that the patient did not travel abroad during the incubation period. She is therefore classified as a local case.

Her family members were screened by DH and found to be asymptomatic. Her residences in Sha Tin and Eastern District were disinfected by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

A DH spokesman reminded the public to guard against cholera as Hong Kong enters the hot season. Epidemiologic data from previous years shows that cholera is more active during summer months.

To prevent cholera and other food borne diseases, members of the public are advised to take the following measures:

* Clean and cook seafood thoroughly before consumption, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;

* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet;

* Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross contamination;

* Keep raw and cooked food separately;

* Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degrees celcius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and

* Keep the environment clean.

This is the third cholera case reported in Hong Kong this (2003) year. In 2002, there were four cholera cases, of which two were imported.

More information about cholera and its prevention is available at DH's 24-hour hotline (2833-0111) and website (http://www.cheu.gov.hk).

End/Tuesday, July 15, 2003

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