XN000022-1978-07-31 — Page 3

MONDAY, JULY 31, 1978

HONG KONG FREE FROM CHOLERA * * *

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTENT ANNOUNCED THAT HONG KONG HAS BEEN DECLARED FREE FROM CHOLERA INFECTION AS FROM TODAY, JULY 31, 1978.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID SINCE THE CONFIRMATION OF THE LAST CHOLERA CASE O. JULY 20, 1978 AND THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION. OF CONTROL MEASURES, NO FURTHER CASE HAS BEEN FOUND CA REPORTED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +ACCORDING TO THE W.H.O. REGULATIONS AN INFECTED AREA MAY, IE COLSTERED AS FREE FROM INFECTION WHEN THERE IS NO FURTHER CASE REPORTED DURING A PERIOD WHICH IS EQUAL TO AT LEAST T., ICE THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF THE DISEASE, SINCE THE LAST CASE IDENTIFIED HAS DIED, RECOVERED OR BEEN ISOLATED. IN THE CASE OF CHOLERA, TWICE THE INCUBATION PERIOD IS 10 DAYS.+

ALTHOUGH HONG KONG HAS BEEN DECLARED FREE FROM CHOLERA INFECTION THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO CONTINUE OBSERVING PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.

THE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF PREVENTING THE LOCAL SPREAD CF CHOLERA IS BY STRICT CESERVANCE OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE E.G. CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER AND CESERVING SIMPLE RULES OF HYGIENE SUCH AS WASHING OF HANDS EEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITING TOILETS, WHICH ARE THE BASIS OF ENSURING THE ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES.

IMMUNIZATION IS ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE AND FOR A SHORT PERIOD. ACCORDING TO W.H.O., IMMUNIZATION DOES NOT PREVENT THE INTERNATIONAL IMPORTATION OF CHOLER CASES OR CARRIERS BUI GENERAL SANITARY CONDITIONS SUCH AS SAFE MATER SUPPLY, PROPER DISPOSAL CF NIGHTSOIL, FOOD HYGIES AND PERSONAL HYGIENE WOULD EE EFFECTIVE MEASURES " THE PREVENTION OF LOCAL SPREAD OF CHOLERA.

REANTIME THE DEPARTMENT ..ILL CONTINUE ITS YEAR-ROUND SURVEILLANCE MEASURES OVER CHOLERA.

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