XN000022-1975-05-11 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1975

PUBLIC URGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA

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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD CHOA, ADVISED TODAY THAT WITH THE APPROACH OF CHOLERA SEASON THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST THIS AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM

WEATHER.

J

HE SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF PREVENTION IS THE STRICT OBSERVANCE OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER, WASHING HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISIT TO TOILETS.

HE REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT INOCULATIONS AGAINST CHOLERA AND TYPHOID WERE AVAILABLE FREE AT ALL GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND VACCINATION CENTRES,

DR. CHOA STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE INCIDENCE OF VIRUS HEPATITIS HAD INCREASED IN RECENT WEEKS, THERE WAS NO RISK OF PEOPLE CONTRACTING THE DISEASE THROUGH INOCULATION AS ALL THE INOCULATION CENTRES VERE USING DISPOSABLE SYRINGES AND NEEDLES,

THE DIRECTOR SAID WITH CHOLERA ALREADY IN EVIDENCE IN SEVERAL TERRITORIES IN THE ASIAN REGION, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS TAKING EXTRA CARE TO PREVENT THE IMPORTATION OF THE DISEASE.

HE WARNED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN NO LOCAL CASES OF CHOLERA SINCE 1969 THE PUBLIC MUST NOT BE TEMPTED TO RELAX THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

+PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IF HONG KONG IS TO REMAIN FREE FROM CHOLERA THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID.

DR. CHOA URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS IN THEIR CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK.

+ IMPROPERLY COOKED FOOD CAN CAUSE INFECTION, WHILE PROPERLY COOKED FOOD CANNOT. IF THE LATTER IS NOT EATEN IMMEDIATELY, IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN THE OPEN, AND SO EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION.

ON THE QUESTION OF DRINKING WATER, THE DIRECTOR SAID WATER COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MAINS IS PURE AND SAFE FOR DRINKING, AND DOES NOT REQUIRE TO BE BOILED.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT DANGER OF IMPURITY MIGHT ARISE WHEN THE WATER WAS STORED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN TANKS, DRUMS OR BUCKETS.

AS THESE CONTAINERS WERE SOMETIMES LEFT FOR LONG PERIODS WITHOUT CLEANING, OR OTHERWISE NOT REGULARLY OR HYGIENICALLY ATTENDED TO, THE WATER IN THEM COULD BE CONTAMINATED, HE SAID.

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, DR. CHOA SAID, STORED WATER SHOULD BE BOILED BEFORE DRINKING.

+THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE QUALITY OF THE WATER, BUT RELATES TO STORAGE CONDITION, HE ADDED.

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