Hong Kong – CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 6) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting four persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involved a male and a female, aged 3 and 34, who developed symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever about nine to 10 hours after having lunch at a restaurant in Sheung Wan on June 3.

     The other cluster involved a male and a female, both aged 51, who developed similar symptoms about eight to 10 hours after consuming food of the same restaurant on the same day.

     The four affected persons sought medical advice and three required hospitalisation. All of them are in stable condition.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• 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 utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• 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.