XN000022-1992-01-08 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1992

PUBLIC WARNED AGAINST HEPATITIS A

*

TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED THE PUBLIC

GASTROINTESTINAL TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AGAINST HEPATITIS A AND OTHER DISEASES WITH THE APPROACH OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

HEPATITIS WERE MORE THAN THREE-FOLD

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID 307 CASES OF VIRAL REPORTED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF WHEN COMPARED WITH 83 CASES IN NOVEMBER.

SO FAR, 80 OF THE 307 CASES IN DECEMBER HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED HEPATITIS A CASES WHILE THE REST ARE STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.

AS

A HISTORY OF SUCH FOOD OUTSIDE

OF THE 80 CASES OF HEPATITIS A, TWO-THIRDS HAVE TAKING BIVALVE SHELLFISH. MOST OF THEM HAVE TAKEN HOMES. MANY HAVE PATRONISED STREET HAWKERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID HEPATITIS CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED FOOD CONSUMPTION OF POLLUTED SHELLFISH.

A WAS

TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE AND DRINKS, IN PARTICULAR, THE

FOOD, SEAFOOD IN PARTICULAR,

BEFORE CONSUMPTION AND THEY

HE ADVISED THE PUBLIC THAT ALL SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY WASHED AND COOKED SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED IF NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.

HEPATITIS A DYSENTERY IS ΤΟ

BECAUSE

THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PREVENT AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID AND OBSERVE

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL,

FOOD HYGIENE DISEASES ARE CONTRACTED VIA THE FAECAL-ORAL ROUTE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THESE

PERIOD то NEARBY PEOPLE TRAVELLING DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

WHERE HEPATITIS COUNTRIES

A, TYPHOID AND OTHER GASTROINTESTINAL EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IN DISEASES ARE ENDEMIC, ARE ALSO ADVISED TO TAKE THE SELECTION OF FOOD AND DRINKS.

THEY ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING HYGIENE RULES:

WASH HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITING THE TOILETS;

FOOD ARE ENSURE ALL CONSUMPTION;

*

PROPERLY WASHED AND

COOKED

BEFORE

AVOID BUYING FOOD FROM UNLICENSED FOOD PLACES OR HAWKERS DOUBTFUL SOURCES, AND

ENSURE THAT DRINKING WATER IS BOILED.

A HEALTH HOTLINE (838 3232) IN CANTONESE HAS

OR

BEEN SET UP TO

PROVIDE INFORMATION OF THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HEPATITIS A.

OBTAINED AT COPIES OF A LEAFLET ON "SHELLFISH HYGIENE" CAN BE

THE DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE HYGIENE DIVISION OF FIGHTH FLOOR, FA YUEN STREET UC COMPLEX, 123A FA YUEN STREET, KOWLOON; SEVENTH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, AND REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT.

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