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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 7) provided an update on its investigation into a tour group with persons developed gastroenteritis symptoms announced yesterday.
The CHP's investigation revealed that the outbreak is likely to be a suspected case of food poisoning. For this cluster, five more affected persons, comprising three males and two females aged between five and 41, were identified today. They are members of a tour group who had visited Korea from December 31, 2013 to January 4, 2014. They developed abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting since January 3. Three of them attended a hospital in Korea and no hospitalisation was required. They are all in stable condition. This brings to 23 the total number of persons affected in the cluster reported yesterday.
In addition, CHP is today investigating another cluster of suspected food poisoning case involving five persons of a tour group. This cluster involves one male and four females aged between six and 48. They are members of a tour group who had visited Korea from December 29, 2013 to January 2, 2014. They developed diarrhoea and vomiting since December 31, 2013. One of them sought medical consultation from a private doctor in Hong Kong and no hospitalisation was required. All of them are in stable condition.
Investigation is on-going.
A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against food poisoning:
* 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.
The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information on food poisoning.
Ends/Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:38
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