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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 1) reminded members of the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The appeal was made following reports of two suspected food poisoning cases involving restaurants in Sheung Wan and Tung Chung respectively, affecting a total of 17 people.
The first case involved a restaurant in Sheung Wan. Three clusters of people, including two men and five women aged between 23 and 55, were affected. The first cluster, which comprised one man and two women, developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea six to 13 hours after having meal at the restaurant on July 17.
Affected people in the second and third clusters developed similar symptoms 10 to 13 hours after having meals at the restaurant yesterday.
Of them, five consulted private doctors or the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals while another one was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital. All of them are in stable condition.
In the second case, 10 affected people (four men and six women aged between 27 and 43) developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting three to eight hours after having a lunch buffet at a restaurant in Tung Chung on July 31. One of the affected people consulted a private doctor and 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/Friday, August 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:03
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