2005-01-03
The Department of Health (DH) has arranged with airline companies to broadcast health messages on flights from places affected by tsunami, advising passengers to approach the airport medical post on arrival for assistance if they feel unwell.
The Centre for Health Protection of DH has also sent letters to all doctors urging them to be on the alert when attending patients with travel history to the affected areas and to look out for symptoms of infectious diseases.
A DH spokesman said that the sources of water and food in the affected areas might have been contaminated and could lead to food poisoning as well as food and water borne diseases, such as bacillary dysentery and cholera.
"Many of the affected areas are also endemic in mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever."
"Travellers returning from the affected areas should be cautious of any symptoms of infectious diseases, including fever, diarrhea and rash."
"Employers of domestic helpers are also advised to watch out for the health of their helpers on their return to Hong Kong and arrange their helpers to seek medical consultation if in doubt," he said.
"Members of the public should be vigilant at all time in personal, food and environmental hygiene for the protection of their own health and prevention of infectious diseases," the spokesman said.
For information on travel health, members of the public may visit the Travel Health website at http://www.info.gov.hk/trhealth/e_HKTHS.htm.
Ends/Monday, January 3, 2005