TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1978
HONG KONG DECLARES CHOLERA FREE
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY DECLARED THAT HONG KONG IS NO LONGER A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID NO FURTHER CASES OF CHOLERA HAVE BEEN FOUND SINCE THE CONFIRMATION OF THE LAST CASE ON AUGUST 3 AND THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTROL MEASURES.
HE SAID: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REGULATIONS AN INFECTED AREA IS CONSIDERED FREE FROM INFECTION WHEN THERE IS NO FURTHER CASE REPORTED DURING A PERIOD WHICH IS EQUAL TO AT LEAST TWICE THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF THE DISEASE SINCE THE LAST CASE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF CHOLERA IS FIVE DAYS.+
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE OBSERVING THE RULES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY W.H.O. EXPERTS AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA AS WELL AS OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES.
THE LAST CASE OF CHOLERA INVOLVED AN 89-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM TO KWA WAN IN KOWLOON, WHO WAS ADMITTED TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 3.
SHE HAS SINCE RECOVERED AND WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY.
IT WAS THE SECOND CASE OF CHOLERA DETECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR. THE FIRST CAME TO LIGHT ON JULY 20 INVOLVING A 54-YEAR- OLD MAN FROM TSING YI ISLAND WHO HAD DIED OF A HEART CONDITION.
UNTIL THE DISCOVERY OF THESE TWO CASES, HONG KONG HAD BEEN FREE FROM CHOLERA SINCE 1969.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF CHOLERA IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION THE RISK OF THE DISEASE OF REAPPEARING IN HONG KONG REMAINS.
+THEREFORE, THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ADVISED TO CONTINUE TAKING ALL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, PARTICULARLY IN THE CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK AND IN THE PREPARATION OF FOOD, HE SAID.
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