XN000022-1977-06-22 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1977

TIPS ON PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE

CHOLERA WATCH STEPPED UP

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADVISED TODAY THAT WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CHOLERA SEASON, PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS WERE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID PRIMARY PROTECTION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS MEANT CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER, THE WASHING OF HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITS TO THE TOILET IN ADDITION TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES.

WITH CHOLERA ALREADY IN EVIDENCE IN MANY TERRITORIES IN THE ASIAN REGION, THE DEPARTMENT IS INTENSIFYING ALL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHERS WHICH ARE BEING INSTITUTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID AIRCRAFTS AND VESSELS COMING FROM INFECTED AREAS ARE INSPECTED AND PASSENGERS WILL BE PUT UNDER SURVEILLANCE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PORT HEALTH OFFICERS.

ALL EATABLE ARRIVING FROM INFECTED TERRITORIES, SUCH AS FRUIT, ARE ALREADY BE ING CAREFULLY SCRUITINISED BY HEALTH INSPECTORS, AND REGULAR INSPECTION OF FOOD STALLS AND RESTAURANTS WILL BE STEPPED UP TO ENSURE A HIGH STANDARD OF FOOD HYGIENE.

IN ADDITION, THE TESTING OF NIGHT SOIL AND STOOL CULTURES, AND SAMPLES OF ALL CASES OF DIARRHOEA WILL CONTINUE SO THAT ANY SUSPECTED CASE OF CHOLERA WHICH COMES TO LIGHT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE IS SUFFICIENT STOCK OF ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT IT, AND ISOLATION FACILITIES ARE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

HE SAID THE PUBLIC MUST REALISE THAT ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE BY ITSELF WOULD ONLY GIVE PARTIAL PROTECTION INDIVIDUALLY AND INOCULATION AGAINST CHOLERA IS AN ADJUVANT MEASURE TO THE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL HEALTH MEASURES WHICH ARE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.

HE EXPLAINED THAT IN COMPLIANCE WITH A RESOLUTION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, CHOLERA CERTIFICATES HAVE NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO BE PRODUCED. BY TRAVELLERS ENTERING MANY COUNTRIES SINCE 1974 AND HONG KONG IS NO EXCEPTION.

THE REASON IS THAT FROM EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCES IN ALL COUNTRIES INFECTED BY CHOLERA AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT INOCULATION AGAINST CHOLERA AND VALID CERTIFICATIONS TO THIS EFFECT HAS NOT OVER THE YEARS PREVENTED THE INTER-COUNTRY SPREAD OF THE DISEASE NOR THE ENTRY OF IT INTO ANY COUNTRY.

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