The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 26) 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 comprises two females aged 27 to 32 who developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea about 11 to 15 hours after dinner in a restaurant in Mong Kok on October 23.

     The other cluster comprises two females and one male aged 29 to 38 who developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea about 12 to 22 hours after dinner in the same restaurant on the same day.

     All affected persons have been in a stable condition. Four of them sought medical advice and none required hospitalisation.

     "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:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• 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;
• 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, October 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:00

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