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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 31) received report of a suspected food poisoning case involving a tour group and reminded members of the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
A total of 10 people, including five men and five women aged between nine and 61, were affected. They joined a tour group to the Mainland between July 29 and 30 and developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever after returning to Hong Kong.
Eight of them consulted private doctors or Accident and Emergency Department of public hospital and are now stable. No hospitalisation was required.
Further investigation is in progress.
When dining out, members of the public should:
* 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 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 toilet.
Ends/Thursday, July 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:20
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