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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 29) investigating three suspected food poisoning clusters affecting 20 people and hence reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involved three men and four women aged 22 to 70 who developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting about two to 21 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Causeway Bay on September 25.
The second cluster involved one man and seven women aged 29 to 41 who developed similar symptoms about 13 to 23 hours after having dinner at the same food premises on September 25.
The third cluster involved three men and two women aged 9 to 42 who developed similar symptoms about 11 to 24 hours after having dinner at the same food premises on September 25.
Eighteen patients sought medical attention and two were admitted to hospitals. All the affected persons are now in a 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, 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, September 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:20
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