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Hong Kong, Vibrio cholerae found in fish tank water in Tsuen Wan fresh provision shop (September 19 2011)
[Source: Food and Environment Hygiene Department, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK). Edited.]
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Vibrio cholerae found in fish tank water in Tsuen Wan fresh provision shop
19 September 2011
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 19) ordered the temporary closure of the fish portion of a fresh provision shop in Tsuen Wan for thorough disinfection following detection of Vibrio cholerae in a water sample collected from its fish tank.
The fresh provision shop, PARKnSHOP Superstore, is located at Shop F201, 1/F, Phase II, Smartlands, Tsuen Wan Town Lot 247, Tsuen Wan, New Territories.
The water sample was taken from a fish tank inside the shop on September 14. The test result today confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor serotype Ogawa.
To protect public health, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene ordered the immediate closure of the portion selling fish in that fresh provision shop under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
The fish portion of the shop will remain closed for thorough cleansing and disinfection of the premises and fish tanks until the Director is satisfied with its overall hygiene condition and believes that there is no immediate health hazard.
A department spokesman said, "Vibrio cholerae cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking."
To prevent cholera, the spokesman advised people to observe the following guidelines:
-19 September 2011
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 19) ordered the temporary closure of the fish portion of a fresh provision shop in Tsuen Wan for thorough disinfection following detection of Vibrio cholerae in a water sample collected from its fish tank.
The fresh provision shop, PARKnSHOP Superstore, is located at Shop F201, 1/F, Phase II, Smartlands, Tsuen Wan Town Lot 247, Tsuen Wan, New Territories.
The water sample was taken from a fish tank inside the shop on September 14. The test result today confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor serotype Ogawa.
To protect public health, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene ordered the immediate closure of the portion selling fish in that fresh provision shop under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
The fish portion of the shop will remain closed for thorough cleansing and disinfection of the premises and fish tanks until the Director is satisfied with its overall hygiene condition and believes that there is no immediate health hazard.
A department spokesman said, "Vibrio cholerae cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking."
To prevent cholera, the spokesman advised people to observe the following guidelines:
- Wash and scrub shellfish thoroughly;
- Clean the seafood and remove the internal organs, and cook thoroughly before consumption;
- Raw and cooked food must be handled with separate sets of utensils to avoid cross-contamination; and
- Raw and cooked food should be stored separately. Cooked food should be placed on the upper shelf of a refrigerator.
- People should also pay attention to personal and food hygiene," he said.
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