XN000022-1987-05-03 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1987

PUBLIC PRECAUTION URGED AGAINST SUMMER DISEASES

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WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE URGED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN 1986 THERE WERE 30 CHOLERA CASES AND 223 FOOD POISONING CASES, WHICH AFFECTED MORE THAN 1 000 PEOPLE.

DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1987, 34 FOOD POISONING CASES AFFECTING 121 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED.

THE SPOKESMAN CAUTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH NO CHOLERA CASE HAS BEEN REPORTED SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT RELAX THEIR PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE DISEASE.

+THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PREVENT CHOLERA AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY IS TO OBSERVE PERSONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD HYGIENE, HE STRESSED.

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, PEOPLE TEND TO BE LESS CAREFUL IN THE CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINKS. SINCE MOST GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK, PEOPLE SHOULD BE SPECIALLY CAREFUL IN THEIR EATING HABITS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THAT ALL FOOD SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY COOKED AND SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED IF NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY,

+THE CHOLERA BEING ENCOUNTERED TODAY IS CHOLERA EL TOR WHICH IS ENDEMIC IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND ISOLATED CASES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR NOW AND THEN, BUT EPIDEMICS ARE UNLIKELY.

+CHOLERA VACCINATION IS OF NO PRACTICAL VALUE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENTIVE MEASURE. THE STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE SIMPLE RULES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE SUCH AS WASHING OF HANDS AFTER TOILET AND BEFORE FOOD PREPARATION AND THE HYGIENIC HANDLING OF FOOD AND DRINKS ARE THE EFFECTIVE WAYS AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER DIARRHOEA DISEASES, HE SAID.

PEOPLE TRAVELLING TO OVERSEAS COUNTRIES WHERE CHOLERA IS ENDEMIC ARE ALSO ADVISED TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE IN THE SELECTION OF FOOD AND DRINK.

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