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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 8) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven people and reminds 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 15 to 42 who developed diarrhoea and abdominal pain about 18 to 21 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Mong Kok on June 6. They all sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.
The other cluster comprises three men and one woman aged from 40 to 65 who developed the same symptoms about 19 to 20 hours after having dinner at the same premises on June 5. None of them sought medical consultation.
All the affected persons are now in a stable condition. The CHP's investigations are proceeding.
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 hot pot or barbecue;
* 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/Monday, June 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:56
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