XN000022-1972-09-11 — Page 3

Monday, September 11, 1972

MORE CHOLERA SAMPLES DETECTED

E3

Four cholera-positive samples were discovered by the Medical

and Health Department's Institute of Pathology during routine culture

of nightsoil collected between last Thursday night and Friday morning.

The samples came from the Happy Valley and Wan Chai areas, and the

germs were identified as cholera-positive specimens on Saturday.

Other samples of nightsoil in the same areas collected between

Saturday night and Sunday morning were laboratory-tested earlier today,

and two samples were found to contain cholera germs.

Further investigation is continuing.

"No cholera cases have occurred," said Dr. J.K. Craig, Acting

Director of Medical and Health Services, "but this does highlight the need

to maintain the strictest personal and environmental hygiene, especially

during the cholera season,

"We will continue to keep the public informed whenever our routine

examination of nightsoil turns up anything unusual."

The latest cholera-positive samples are the third series to be

discovered during routine examinations of nightsoil this summer. The earlier

samples were found in June and July, and they came from nightsoil collected in

the Shau Kei Wan area.

Dr. Craig repeated warnings about the need to protect food and

water from contamination to prevent an outbreak of cholera during the remainder

of the hot weather this year.

14