6 Dec 2010
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning cases involving 10 people.
The first cluster involved five females aged from 26 to 28 who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea about three to four hours after consuming food in a restaurant in Tung Chung on November 28. All of them sought medical treatment but did not require hospitalisation. All the affected are currently in stable condition.
The second group involved two males and three females aged from one to 38. They developed similar symptoms about three to four hours after eating in the same restaurant on December 4. One of them sought medical treatment and no hospitalisation was required. All of them are in stable condition.
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.