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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 28) provided an update on its investigation announced on June 26 and 27 into suspected food poisoning clusters. All affected persons had consumed food at a restaurant in North Point on June 25 and 26.
Subsequent to its follow-up investigations, the CHP has newly identified eight clusters with 32 affected persons comprising 13 males and 19 females aged 1 to 73. They developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea about two to 24 hours after having dinner at the restaurant. Twenty-four of them sought medical consultation but none required hospitalisation. All of the affected persons are currently in stable condition.
This brings the total number of persons affected to 74 so far, comprising 29 males and 45 females aged 1 to 79. The CHP has 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, June 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:27
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