CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters
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The first cluster involves two men and six women aged from 18 to 23 who developed abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 14 to 61 hours after their dinner in a restaurant in Causeway Bay on December 1. Four of them sought medical attention and hospitalisation was not required.
The other cluster affects one male and two females aged from 25 to 29 who developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea about 17 to 37 hours after a dinner in a restaurant in Tai Kok Tsui on December 5. Two of them sought medical advice and no hospitalisation was required.
All affected persons have been in stable condition.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that all affected persons had consumed raw oysters. The CHP has alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and 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, December 9, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:42
Issued at HKT 20:42
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