CHP's update on suspected food poisoning clusters in Happy Valley
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 12) provided an update following its investigation into a suspected case of food poisoning announced on December 10 and hence urged members of the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     Subsequent to the CHP's follow-up investigations, 16 more affected persons, five men and eleven women aged from 23 to 55, were identified. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and fever after dining at the same food premises in Happy Valley on December 6. Eight of them consulted private doctors.

     Besides, an additional suspected cluster of linked food poisoning has been reported. Two men and five women, aged from 31 to 48, developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea about 12 to 59 hours after having dinner on another floor of the food premises on December 6. Three of them consulted private doctors.

     All affected persons did not require hospitalisation and are currently in stable condition. Investigations are proceeding.

     The CHP stressed that, to prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are urged to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

* Eat thoroughly cooked food;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
* Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* 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; and
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

Ends/Thursday, December 12, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:49

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