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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 2) is investigating two cases of suspected food poisoning involving a total of 38 people.
In the first case, 20 men and five women aged from 16 to 48 developed gastroenteritis symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, about two to 23 hours after having dinner buffet in a hotel in Mong Kok on June 30.
Seven of them consulted private doctors or attended Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of public hospital. None required hospitalization.
The second case involved five men and eight women, aged from 18 to 53. They developed similar gastroenteritis symptoms five to 26 hours after consuming food bought from a food premises in Central District on June 29.
Ten of them sought medical treatment from private doctors or AED. No hospitalisation is required.
All the affected people in the two cases are in stable condition.
People are reminded to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent food-borne diseases. When dining out:
* Patronise only reputable and licensed restaurants;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters in a buffet;
* Drink boiled water;
* Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
* Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective;
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:14
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