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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 11) investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 15 persons and hence reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The affected persons attended a camping event in Happy Valley from August 7 to 9. Based on information from the organiser, more than 20 participants have reported symptoms of acute gastroenteritis since August 9. So far, the CHP has identified 15 female patients aged between 8 and 30. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea and abdominal pain about three to 26 hours after having lunch at the camp site on August 9.
Three of them sought medical consultation and none of them required hospitalisation. All the affected persons are in stable condition. The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.
To prevent food-borne diseases, the CHP advised organisations to:
* Choose and monitor food suppliers carefully; and
* Keep hot foods at more than 60 degrees Celsius, while cold foods should be kept at 4 degrees Celsius or below.
To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded 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;
* 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/Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:16
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