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Monday, May 28, 1973
PRECAUTIONS DURING CHOLERA SEASON
The Director of Medical and Health Services, Dr. G.H. Choa, advised
today that with the approach of the cholera season, "personal and environmental
cleanliness** were essential if Hong Kong was to remain free of the disease
this year.
He warned that "primary protection during the summer months" meant
clean food, clean water, the washing of hands before and after meals, and
after visits to the toilet.
The public is also urged to be "extra cautious" in their choice of
food and drink.
"Improperly cooked food can cause infection, while properly cooked
food cannot. If the latter is not eaten immediately, it should not be left
in the open and so exposed to contamination," he said.
Dr. Choa made it perfectly clear that water coming directly from
the mains in Hong Kong was pure and safe for drinking, and did not require
to be boiled.
In his view, danger of impurity arose when this water left the
mains for storage in tanks, drums, or buckets. As these containers were
sometimes left for long perioda without cleaning, or otherwise not regularly
or hygienically attended to, they made possible the contamination of the
water by germs.
"In these
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