XN000022-1979-05-20 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1979

ADVICE ON PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SUMMER DISEASES

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH WARM WEATHER.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREVENTION METHOD WAS TO OBSERVE PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.

HE WARNED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN NO CHOLERA CASES IN HONG KONG SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR, THE PUBLIC MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ITS REAPPEARANCE IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF THE DISEASE IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID BOTH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE STEPPING UP ALL POSSIBLE MEASURES AGAINST THE OUTBREAK OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES WHICH ARE PREVALENT IN SUMMER.

+FOR INSTANCE, THE TESTING OF NIGHT SOIL AND STOOL SAMPLES OF ALL CASES OF DIARRHOEA HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT SO THAT ANY SUSPECTED CASES OF CHOLERA THAT COME TO LIGHT ARE IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE IS SUFFICIENT STOCK OF ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE AND ISOLATION FACILITIES ARE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION.

HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE BY ITSELF WOULD ONLY GIVE PARTIAL PROTECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

+EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH HAVE SHOWN THAT THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS IN THE PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND WATER AND GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN THE IR CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK AS CHOLERA AND OTHER DIARRHOEA DISEASES ARE SPREAD THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND WATER.

ALL TYPES OF FOOD SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY COOKED AND IF NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY, IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN THE OPEN AND EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION, HE SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THESE PROTECTIVE MEASURES WERE EFFECTIVE NOT ONLY AGAINST CHOLERA BUT OTHER INTESTINAL DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY.

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