The Department of Health has called on people to be cautious of food-borne infections after a cholera case involving a 23-year-old man was confirmed today.

The patient developed diarrhoea on July 1 and went to a Government clinic in Tuen Mun for treatment.

The strain was identified as Inaba and the patient is now in Princess Margaret Hospital in stable condition.

While he had no history of travelling abroad during the incubation period, he had eaten raw shrimp.

His family members were asymptomatic and disinfection was carried out by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department at his Tuen Mun home.

This is the second reported cholera case in Hong Kong this year. The first case in June was identified as the Ogawa strain, indicating the two cases are unrelated.

Four cases, including two imported ones, were reported last year.

To prevent cholera and other food-borne diseases, people are advised to:

* Clean and cook seafood thoroughly before consumption, particularly shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;

* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet;

* Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross contamination;

* Keep raw and cooked food separately;

* Store food in the refrigerator (at four degrees Celsius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and,

* Keep the environment clean.