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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 29) received a report of a suspected food poisoning case involving a tour group and reminded people to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The affected 11 people were four men and seven women aged between six and 74. They joined a tour group to the Mainland between July 26 and 28 and developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever after returning to Hong Kong.
Six of them consulted private doctors and are now stable. No hospitalisation was required.
Further investigation is in progress.
When dining out, people should:
* Patronise only reputable and licensed restaurants;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi and raw oysters in a buffet;
* Drink boiled water;
* Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
* Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective;
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to toilet.
Ends/Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:00
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