******************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 19) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting four persons and reminds the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involved a 38-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman who developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever about 18 to 44 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Discovery Bay on April 15.
The other cluster comprises two women aged 30 and 31 respectively who developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting about seven to 23 hours after having lunch at the same food premises on April 16.
All of the affected persons are now in stable condition and sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. 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/Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:14
NNNN
