XN000022-1986-08-19 — Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1900

HONG KONG IS CHOLERA FREE

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MŨNG NÔNG WAS TODAY (TUESDAY) DECLARED CHOLERA FREE 17 DAYS AFTER THE TERRITORY BECAME AN INFECTED AREA.

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THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR S.H. LEE, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON THE CONTROL OF CHOLERA.

HE EXPLAINED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WHO INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATION, HONG KONG WAS DECLARED CHOLERA FREE AS MORE THAN 10 DAYS HAD LAPSED SINCE THE LAST CHOLERA CASE WAS ISOLATED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE FROM PRIMARY CASES.

THE LAST CHOLERA PATIENT WAS ISOLATED ON AUGUST 6.

SINCE HONG KONG WAS DECLARED CHOLERA INFECTED ON AUGUST 2, A TOTAL OF 22 CONFIRMED CASES WERE REPORTED AND ALL HAD BEEN DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL.

DR LEE STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH HONG KONG IS NOW FREE FROM CHOLERA, THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT RELAX THE IR GUARD AGAINST THE DISEASE.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED TO MAINTAIN THEIR EFFONTS IN KEEPING THE IR FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT CLEAN AND IN PRACTISING STRICT PERSONAL HYGIENE.

+AS CHOLERA IS ENDEMIC IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, A RECUR JERUS

THEREFORE, THERE OF THE DISEASE IS EXPECTED FROM TIME TO TIME. IS A NEED TO MAINTAIN CLOSE VIGILANCE ON THE DISEASE AND TO MAINTAIN PREVENTIVE MEASURES,+ SAID DR LEE.

MEANWHILE, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, THE UREAN SERVICES, REGIONAL SERVICES AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE WITH FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEILLANCE, INCLUDING THE INSPECTION OF FOOD PREMISES, THE CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL FOOD VENDORS AND THE EXAMINATION OF FOOD AND WATER SAMPLES.

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO MAINTAIN ITS SURVE ILLANCE PROGRAMME ON THE DISEASE.

IN ADDITION, DR LEE DISCLOSED THAT A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, CO-ORDINATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA WILL ALSO BE LAUNCHED.

THESE EFFORTS WILL INCLUDE SEMINARS AND TALKS TO FACTORY WORKERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, STRATEGIC DISPLAY OF POSTERS, WIDE CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PAMPHLETS AND LEAFLETS EMPHASIS ING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD HYGIENE, AND THE REGULAR BROADCASTING OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST ON TELEVISION AND THE RADIO.

/IN THE