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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 6) is investigating two cases of suspected food poisoning involving 18 people who felt sick after having lunch in a restaurant in Wan Chai.
In the first case, three women aged from 18 to 70 had a lunch buffet in the restaurant on August 4. They developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting about eight to 12 hours after the meal and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). No hospitalisation was required.
The second group involved nine women and six men aged from 17 to 58 who had lunch buffet at the same restaurant on August 4. They developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever about 9.5 to 22.5 hours after the meal. Four of them sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department of PMH. Four others consulted private doctors. None required hospitalisation.
CHP reminded people, especially food handlers, to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
People are advised to take the following measures:
* Do not consume food that has been discoloured or tastes abnormal; and
* Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after going to the toilet.
Members of the trade are reminded to:
* Obtain raw materials from reliable sources;
* Clean and cook food thoroughly before serving to customers, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
* Keep raw and cooked foods separately to reduce the risk of cross-contamination;
* Cold dishes should be kept at 4℃ or below and hot-served foods, at 60℃ or above over warming devices;
* Food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours; and
* Observe good personal and environmental hygiene.
Ends/Monday, August 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:38
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