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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 16) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven people and reminds the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involved one man and two women aged 60 to 62 who developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever about eight to 17 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Causeway Bay on October 13. One of them sought medical attention but hospitalisation was not required.
The other cluster comprises four women aged 49 to 50 who developed similar symptoms about five to 21 hours after having dinner at the same premises on October 13. None of them sought medical consultation.
All the affected persons are now 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, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
* Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
* Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
* Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
* 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/Friday, October 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:43
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