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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 4) reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent acute gastroenteritis.
The CHP made the appeal after its investigations of an acute gastroenteritis outbreak in an elderly home in Kennedy Town.
The outbreak affected 21 residents and four staff members who developed symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, including diarrhoea and vomiting, between November 30 and today. The affected people comprised 16 men and nine women aged between 23 and 103. Six of them consulted private doctors. Eleven others attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a public hospital and seven of them were admitted. All are in stable condition.
Laboratory testing of specimens collected from patients are still in progress.
Staff of the CHP visited the elderly home. Health advice was given to staff who were also reminded to watch out for symptoms of acute gastroenteritis among residents and report any suspected cases to CHP.
CHP will closely monitor for further cases and provide health advice as necessary.
Acute gastroenteritis usually presents with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, low-grade fever and malaise.
With the approaching winter season which is historically the peak season for viral gastroenteritis, a department spokesman stressed the importance of personal, food and environmental hygiene in preventing acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutional settings.
To prevent the spread of acute gastroenteritis, people should observe the following precautions:
* Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating and after using the toilet or handling vomit or faecal matter;
* Wear gloves when disposing of vomit and faeces and wash hands afterwards;
* Clean and disinfect contaminated areas and items promptly and thoroughly with household bleach diluted in a ratio of 1 in 49 units of water; maintain good indoor ventilation;
* Make sure that food, particularly seafood and shellfish, is cooked thoroughly.
For more information on the disease, people may visit the CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
Ends/Monday, December 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:16
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