Hong Kong: Imported case of cholera under investigation (8/21/10): Vibrio Cholerae O1 Ogawa in a 30 year old woman from Indonesia.

[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: Imported case of cholera under investigation (8/21/10)


[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, View Original Article.]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 21) investigated an imported case of cholera and reminds people to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene, whether in Hong Kong or travelling abroad.

The case involved a 30-year-old woman who came to Hong Kong from Indonesia on August 17. The woman developed watery diarrhoea and vomiting on August 18. She attended Kwong Wah Hospital on August 19 and was admitted for further management. She is now in stable condition. Laboratory tests today showed that her stool specimen yielded positive result for Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa. Her close contacts have no symptoms of cholera.

A CHP spokesman said, "Whether in Hong Kong or travelling abroad, people should pay attention to hygiene and take measures to prevent cholera and food-borne infection."

People are urged to:

• Wash and cook seafood thoroughly before eating, particularly crustaceans and bivalves such as shrimps, crabs, oysters and clams;
• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet;
• Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross-contamination;
• Keep raw and cooked food separately;
• Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degrees Celsius or below) and thoroughly reheat leftover food before eating; and
• Keep the environment clean.

When travelling outside Hong Kong, they should:

• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet;
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food and food from sealed packs or cans;
• Avoid cold dishes such as salad and ice-cream;
• Drink only boiled water, canned or bottled drinks, pasteurised milk or dairy products;
• Do not add ice to drinks and do not drink fresh fruit juice that has been prepared beforehand;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers; and
• Wash fruit thoroughly before eating and do not eat fruit that has already been peeled or cut open.

For more preventive measures against cholera, people may visit CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Hong Kong: Imported case of cholera under investigation (8/21/10): Vibrio Cholerae O1 Ogawa in a 30 year old woman from Indonesia.

At the moment in several regions in Indonesia outbreaks of a disease called "muntaber" (or munmen), a recurring event; symptoms are "diarrhoea and vomiting", same as for cholera.

If you look at epidemiological studies in Indonesia from the past, a small percentage (10% or less) of diarrhea cases were caused by the "vibrio cholerea" bacteria.

Cholera in Indonesia is not as common as in some African countries or Kolkatta, India, but it is there.

So a report like the previous one is not surprising.



A recent report from Jember, East Java; Health authorities stated the situation as "KLB" , 'Health Emergency"


(machinetranslated)


Outbreaks of diarrhea and vomiting in Jember Status KLB

Friday, August 20, 2010 12:10 AM

Metrotvnews.com, Jember: Plague vomiting and defecation (diarrhea and vomiting) widespread in Jember regency, East Java. Recorded in 1996 patients treated in a number of health centers until Friday (20 / 8). Local Health Department set a KLB.

According to Eko Heru Camat Sunarso Shiloh, increased diarrhea and vomiting among patients in health centers and health centers Shiloh Ajung Jember. From the monitoring editor of Metro Tv this morning, the patient came and went. Patients predominantly children and toddlers. They complained of acute dehydration accompanied by nausea and irregular bowel movements.

PHC use the entire space in order to accommodate patients. In fact, the office, musala, and hospital corridor is used to treat patients with diarrhea and vomiting. Much longer in emergency tents. Now the clinic filled with patients.

Data from the Health Department of Jember, two of the 96 patients died of diarrhea and vomiting. Meanwhile, tackle outbreaks of diarrhea and vomiting, health department officials conducted laboratory tests on samples of drinking water.

http://www.metrotvnews.com/index.ph.../08/20/26575/Muntaber-di-Jember-Berstatus-KLB