MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986
PUBLIC WARNED ABOUT SUMMER DISEASES
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) ADVISED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES, SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT VIRAL HEPATITIS AND FOOD POISONING WERE ALSO COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM WEATHER.
FOR INSTANCE, THE NUMBER OF FOOD POISONING CASES HAD BEEN ON THE INCREASE. DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 64 CASES WAS REPORTED COMPARED WITH 34 CASES IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
TURNING TO CHOLERA CASES IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE HAD BEEN THREE SUCH CASES REPORTED SO FAR THIS YEAR AND TWO OF THEM WERE IMPORTED CASES.
HE REMINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE DISEASE.
+PEOPLE TRAVELLING IN SUMMER SEASON TO OVERSEAS COUNTRIES WHERE CHOLERA IS ENDEMIC ARE ADVISED TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE IN THE SELECTION OF FOOD AND DRINKS, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE NOTIFIABLE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES HAD REMAINED AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OVER THE PAST YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTINUING WITH ITS HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
HE STRESSED THAT THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PREVENTION WAS TO OBSERVE PERSONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD HYGIENE.
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SUMMER MONTHS, PEOPLE TENDED TO BE LESS CAREFUL IN THE CHOICE OF FOOD, HE SAID.
AS MOST GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES WERE TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK, PEOPLE SHOULD BE SPECIALLY CAREFUL IN THEIR EATING HABITS.
ALL TYPES OF FOOD SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY COOKED AND SHOULD
NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED IF NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.
WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE MAINS WAS PURE AND SAFE FOR DRINKING, BUT WATER FROM TANKS MIGHT BE CONTAMINATED AND SHOULD BE BOILED BEFORE CONSUMPTION.
+WATER FROM STREAMS AND WELLS IS ALSO NOT SUITABLE FOR DRINKING,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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