XN000022-1978-08-03 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1978

LE CHAM FOUND TO HAVE HARECURED CHOLERA ORGANISMS

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N 39-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO IS NOW UNDER TREATMENT AT THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES UNIT AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE HARBOURED CHOLERA ORGANISMS.

SHE WAS LIVING WITH HER FAMILY AT TO KWA WAN; KOWLOON. SHE

WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 1 WITH SYMPTOMS

OF GASTRO-ENTERITIS. LABORATORY TEST CONFIRMED TODAY (THURSDAY) THE RESENCE OF CHOLERA VIBRIO OF THE EL TOR STRAIN IN THE STOOLS.

THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT IS SATISFACTORY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM AS ALL APPROPRIATE CONTROL MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION FROM THIS CASE. THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LAST CASE ON TSING ISLAND REPORTED ON JULY 20 AND THE PRESENT ONE.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE OBSERVING PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE E.G. CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER, PROPER DISPOSAL OF NIGHTSOIL, AND WASHING OF HANDS' BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITING TOILETS. THESE ARE THE EFFECTIVE MEASURES IN THE PREVENTION OF CHOLERA AS WELL AS OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES, WHICH ARE TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD OR DRINK.

IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF CHOLERA IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN THIS REGION, IT WILL BE ADVISABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS IN THE CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK AND IN THE PREPARATION OF FOOD.

CHOLERA VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND INOCULATION CENTRES FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO BE VACCINATED.

THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT IMMUNIZATION COULD ONLY OFFER PARTIAL PROTECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD. SANITATION IS EFFECTIVE. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICE IN PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.

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