The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 8) investigating a suspected outbreak of food poisoning affecting 12 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The patients, comprising four men and eight women aged 22 to 53, developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea about 17 to 40 hours after having a lunch at a restaurant in Kowloon Bay on December 22, 2017.

     Five of them have sought medical consultation and none required hospitalisation. All affected persons are now in stable condition.

     "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/Monday, January 8, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:38

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