CHP investigates three suspected food poisoning clusters
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 30) investigating three suspected food poisoning clusters in connection with a restaurant chain affecting nine persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
 
     The first cluster comprises two men aged 21 and 22 who developed vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain about 11 to 35 hours after a meal in a branch of the restaurant in Mong Kok at night on August 25.
 
     The second cluster comprises three women aged from 29 to 34 who developed similar symptoms about 31 to 51 hours after a meal in a branch of the restaurant in Causeway Bay at night on August 26.
 
     The third cluster comprises one man and three women aged from 21 to 52 who developed similar symptoms about 17 to 34 hours after a meal in a branch of the restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui at night on August 27.
 
     All affected persons have been in a stable condition. Six of them sought medical advice and none required hospitalisation.
 
     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     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, August 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:59

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