XN000022-1994-07-08 — Page 9

THE ISSUED THE ENQUIRIES:

7

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1994

HK NOT DECLARED A CHOLERA-INFECTED TERRITORY

ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) IN RESPONSE то

LAU,

MEDIA

LAU.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY ENDORSED A DECISION BY THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH NOT TO DECLARE HONG KONG A CHOLERA-INFECTED TERRITORY.

WELL

MRS LAU SAID HONG KONG HAD A VERY GOOD SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AS AS EFFICIENT AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. PROMPT PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA FROM THE 18 REPORTED CASES SO FAR.

HOWEVER, SHE DOES APPRECIATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF SEAFOOD.

SHE REITERATED THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH'S ADVICE THAT ALL FOOD CAN BE SAFELY CONSUMED IF IT IS THOROUGHLY CLEANED AND PROPERLY COOKED TO KILL BACTERIA.

SHE ADDED THAT CHOLERA IS A PREVENTABLE AND TREATABLE DISEASE, AND WITH

GOOD PERSONAL AND FOOD HYGIENE, THERE IS LITTLE DANGER OF CATCHING THE DISEASE.

AT THE SAME TIME, SHE RECOGNISED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. SHE NOTED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IS TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THE ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER AS ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MEASURES TO COMBAT CHOLERA.

IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA ARE BEING CO-ORDINATED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE. RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE STEPPED UP INSPECTIONS OF FOOD PREMISES, AND MONITORING OF FOOD HYGIENE AND WATER QUALITY.

APART FROM THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, THE MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS ALSO STEPPED UP MEASURES TO ADVISE RESTAURANT OPERATORS TO FILL THEIR FISH-TANKS WITH WATER OBTAINED FROM CLEAN SOURCES OF SUPPLY · NOT FROM THE HARBOUR OR TYPHOON SHELTERS.

—

STATEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON CHOLERA

*

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

THERE IS NO NEED TO DECLARE HONG KONG A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA.

IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, THE HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL TERRITORY OR COUNTRY DECIDES ON WHETHER THE PLACE SHOULD BE DECLARED A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA OR NOT.

LOCAL

THE DECISION IS MADE ON THE BASIS OF WHETHER THE CHARACTERISTICS COULD PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA FROM THE REPORTED

CASES.

/SUCH CHARACTERISTICS