SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1977
3
PREVENTION AGAINST CHOLERA
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED THAT IN THE PREVENTION OF CHOLERA IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE RATHER THAN TO DEPEND ON JUST THE INOCULATION.
OUTBREAKS OF CHOLERA HAVE RECENTLY BEEN REPORTED IN MANY COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY EXPLAINED THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST TWO DECADES FROM THE CHOLERA INFECTED COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA SHOWED THAT THE USE OF CHOLERA VACCINE HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE ALTHOUGH THIS, TO AN EXTENT, AFFORDS SOME PERSONAL PROTECTION.
+EXPERIENCE HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS IN THE PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND WATER, AND GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE MEANT THE WASHING OF HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITS TO THE TOILET.
+THESE SIMPLE RULES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE ARE VERY ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THE CHOLERA VIBRIO, OR DISEASE GERM, CANNOT ENTER THE HUMAN BODY UNLESS IT IS SWALLOWED,+
FOOD AND DRINK COULD BE CONTAMINATED BY DIRTY HANDS, AND THE DISEASE COULD ALSO BE TRANSMITTED BY A FLY CARRYING THE GERM IF THE INSECT WERE PERMITTED TO SETTLE ON FOOD, HE SAID.
+FOR THIS REASON, THE PUBLIC MUST ENSURE THAT FOOD IS THOROUGHLY COOKED AND WATER BOILED BEFORE CONSUMPTION. THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN THE OPEN AND SO EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID WITH THE OUTBREAKS OF CHOLERA IN MANY NE IGHBOUR ING COUNTRIES BOTH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE INTENS IF IED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST THE DISEASE.
FOR INSTANCE, AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS COMING FROM INFECTED AREAS ARE INSPECTED AND PASSENGERS PUT UNDER SURVEILLANCE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PORT HEALTH OFFICERS, EATABLES ARRIVING FROM
INFECTED TERRITORIES, SUCH AS FRUITS, ARE CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED BY HEALTH INSPECTORS WHILE REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF FOOD STALLS AND RESTAURANTS ARE CARRIED OUT TO ENSURE A HIGH STANDARD OF FOOD HYGIENE.
IN ADDITION, THE TESTING OF NIGHTSOIL AND STOOL CULTURES, AND SAMPLES OF ALL CASES OF DIARRHOEA IS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO THAT ANY SUSPECTED CASE OF CHOLERA WHICH COMES TO LIGHT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED.
/THE SPOKESMAN