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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 3) is investigating a case of suspected food poisoning involving 10 people.
The case involves four men and six women aged between 6 and 70. They travelled to the Mainland at the end of June. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, about seven to 21 hours after having dinner in a restaurant in Xiamen on June 30.
The group returned to Hong Kong on July 1. Five of them attended a private hospital on the same day. Among them, two required hospitalisation and were discharged on July 3.
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/Thursday, July 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:43
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