CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters
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    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 24) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting five persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involves two men and one woman aged from 23 to 56 who developed diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever about 11 to 14 hours after a dinner in a food premises in Kennedy Town on August 21 evening.

     The other cluster comprises two women both aged 21 who developed similar symptoms about 9 to 28 hours after a dinner in the same food premises on the same evening.

    All affected persons have been in a stable condition. Four of the affected persons sought medical attention. One required hospitalisation and has been discharged upon management.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     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/Thursday, August 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:20

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