Update on suspected food poisoning clusters related to food premises in Causeway Bay
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 25) provided an update on its investigation announced on January 17 into two suspected food poisoning outbreaks. All affected persons had consumed food at a food premises in Causeway Bay between January 11 and 16.

     Subsequent to its follow-up investigations, the CHP has newly identified five clusters with 17 affected persons comprising six men and 11 women aged 19 to 56. They developed vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever, about seven to 42 hours after having meals at the restaurant.

     This brings the total number of clusters to seven with 31 affected persons so far, comprising nine males and 22 females aged 14 to 56. Twenty of them sought medical consultation and none required hospitalisation. All affected persons are currently in stable condition.

     All the reported cases had meals at the food premises concerned before investigation and control measures instituted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and no additional cases have been reported after the control measures were implemented.
    
     The CHP's 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, January 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:45

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