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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 27)appealed to people, including those travelling to Japan, to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus infection.
CHP's Consultant in Community Medicine, Dr Thomas Tsang, gave the advice following recent reports of noroviral gastroenteritis outbreaks in Japan.
"According to the information provided by the Japanese health authority, there has been an early increase of norovirus outbreaks since October. The activity of infectious gastroenteritis in Japan also demonstrated a rising trend and the figures were the highest over the corresponding weeks in the past 10 years. Winter is usually the peak season for norovirus outbreaks in Japan," Dr Tsang said.
"We have contacted our Japanese counterpart for more updated information and are closely monitoring the situation."
"The department has already informed the local travel industry about the outbreaks in Japan and reminded travel agencies and travellers to be on guard against the disease by maintaining high standard of hygiene," Dr Tsang said.
He said people should be vigilant as noroviral gastroenteritis had also entered the peak season in Hong Kong since late November and early December. Furthermore, the winter season is historically the peak season for norovirus outbreaks.
Norovirus is transmitted via person-to-person or food and water contaminated by the virus. It is believed to be the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in the community. Symptoms consist of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which generally subside within a few days. Elderly people and young children should be especially careful as the severe loss of body fluids from viral gastroenteritis may cause dehydration and electrolyte disorder.
CHP's surveillance system recorded 20 institutional outbreaks caused by norovirus involving 204 people so far in December as compared with 12 outbreaks affecting 102 people in the whole of November in Hong Kong. CHP's sentinel surveillance systems based at elderly homes for acute diarrhoea had indicated an upward trend since early December.
"Good personal, food and environmental hygiene were of paramount importance in preventing the spread of the disease. An effective preventive measure is to eat well cooked food as heat effectively destroys the virus.
"CHP has organised a series of lectures for operators of elderly homes and long-term care facilities on norovirus prevention and control in the past few months. Management of institutions, including elderly homes, were reminded to be on the lookout for symptoms of viral gastroenteritis among residents and report any suspected outbreaks to the CHP."
Dr Tsang also urged the public and travellers to observe handwashing and good hygiene at all times to protect themselves against food poisoning caused by virus and bacteria.
"When dining out to celebrate the festive season while travelling or in Hong Kong, people should always maintain good hygiene and take necessary preventive measures."
To prevent contracting noroviral gastroenteritis while in Hong Kong or visiting other countries, the public and travellers are urged to pay special attention to the following:
* Maintain high standard of personal hygiene.
* Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating and after going to toilets and handling vomitus or faecal matter.
* Avoid consuming food that is not thoroughly cooked, especially shellfish.
* 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.
More information on viral gastroenteritis is available in CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or by calling the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
For the latest information on infectious diseases in other places and relevant preventive measures, members of the public may visit the Department of Health's Hong Kong Travel Health Service Website http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:33
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