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MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1975
ADVICE ON PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
AS WARM SEASON APPROACHES
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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL. AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD CHOA, TODAY URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE ON THE ALERT IN PREVENTING THE OCCURRENCE OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES WHICH TEND TO BECOME MORE PREVALENT IN THE WARM SEASON.
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF WARM WEATHER EARLIER THAN USUAL, THE PUBLIC SHOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS, WHICH IS MOST ESSENTIAL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE,
DR. CHOA EXPLAINED THAT PERSONAL CLEANLINESS MEANT THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SIMPLE RUES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE, SUCH AS WASHING OF HAIGIS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITS TO TOILETS, WHILE FNVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS MEANT CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER AND PROPER DISPOSAL OF REFUSE AND EXCRETA.
THE DISEASES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM WEATHER INCLUDE TYPHOID FEVER, DYSENTERY, FOOD POISONING AND VIRAL HEPATITIS.
IN PARTICULAR, THE DIRECTOR DREW ATTENTION TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO FURTHER INCREASE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARMER.
AS THE COMMON TYPE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK, DR. CHOA URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS IN THEIR CHOICE OF SUCH.
HE WARNED THAT IMPROPERLY COOKED FOOD COULD CAUSE INFECTION AND FURTHER ADVISED THAT PROPERLY COOKED FOOD, IF NOT EATEN IMMEDIATELY, SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION.
WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE PATRONISING STALLS SELLING COOKED FOOD AS AN ECONOMY MEASURE, THE OBSERVANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE, HE SAID.
THE CONSUMPTION OF SUCH ITEMS OF FOOD AS SHELLFISH, CUT FRUITS AND >LEUNG FUN- CARRIED CERTAIN RISKS, AND THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN EATING THEM.
DR. CHOA STRESSED THAT WATER COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MAINS IS PURE AND SAFE FOR DRINKING, AND DID NOT REQUIRE TO BE BOILED.
HOVEVER