TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1982
CHOLERA CASE TRACED TO CONTAMINATED EGGS
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INVESTIGATIONS BY HEALTH OFFICERS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE SOURCE OF INFECTION IN THE RECENT CASE OF CHOLERA IS LIKELY TO HAVE COME FROM CONTAMINATED HARD BOILED CHICKEN EGGS BROUGHT BACK FROM HAIFENG COUNTY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN ANY OF THE CONTAMINATED EGGS FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATION, THERE WAS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE EGGS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT OUTBREAK.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT APART FROM THE 20-YEAR-OLD CONSTRUCTION WORKER, MR LUI PING HON, WHO WAS CONFIRMED TO BE SUFFERING FROM CHOLERA, THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, TOGETHER WITH HIS UNCLE WHO BROUGHT BACK THE HARD-BOILED EGGS FROM CHINA, ALL CAME DOWN WITH DIARRHOEA AFTER EATING THE EGGS.
NINE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TWO FAMILIES WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THE EGGS WERE SYMPTOM-FREE.
+THIS WOULD CLEARLY SUGGEST THAT THE EGGS ARE THE COMMON FACTOR IN CAUSING THE OUTBREAK, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CHOLERA VIBRIO HAD NOT BEEN FOUND IN THE STOOL EXAMINATION OF THE OTHER FOUR CASES POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT STOOL SPECIMEN COULD ONLY BE OBTAINED FROM ALMOST A WEEK AFTER THE ONSET OF DIARRHOEA.
+IN ANY CASE, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEY ALL HAVE EATEN THE EGGS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED, THUS CAUSING THE SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHOEA,+ HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO DECLARE HONG KONG AS A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA AS THE SOURCE OF INFECTION IS INTRODUCED FROM OUTSIDE OF HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, HE ADVISED THE PUBLIC TO BE ON FULL ALERT TO OBSERVE ALL THE RULES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE DISEASE.
THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR
TRAVELLERS INTO AND OUT OF HONG KONG.
MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD DO NOT REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF A CHOLERA VACCINATION CERTIFICATE BUT CERTAIN COUNTRIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THEM WHENEVER THEY DEEM NECESSARY.
PEOPLE INTENDING TO TRAVEL ABROAD ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO CHECK WITH THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE OR AIRLINE COMPANIES ON THE REQUIREMENTS.
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