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CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 2) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting eight persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involves two men and two women, aged from 22 to 29, who developed abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about seven to 25 hours after consuming food bought from a restaurant in San Po Kong at home on October 29.

     The other cluster comprises four females aged from 19 to 46 who developed similar symptoms about four to 17 hours after a dinner in the same restaurant on October 29.

     All the affected persons are now in stable condition. Among them, five sought medical attention, three of whom were hospitalised for management while two were discharged.
 
     The stool specimens of two of them tested positive for Vibrio parahaemolyticus upon laboratory testing by the hospital concerned.

    The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.

     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 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;
  • 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/Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:45
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