5 Oct 2010
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 5) investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning cases involving 11 people.
The first cluster involved four males and one female, aged 26 to 27, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever about 12 to 26 hours after consuming food in a restaurant in Tsuen Wan on October 1. Three of them sought medical treatment and did not require hospitalisation.
The second group involved three males and three females, aged 15 to 50, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever 13 to 67 hours after eating food in the same restaurant on the same day. Four of them sought medical treatment. No hospitalisation was required.
Investigation is on-going.
Members of the public are reminded to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent food-borne diseases. When dining out:
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters in a buffet;
* Drink boiled water;
* Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
* 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.