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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 11) provided an update on its investigation into suspected food poisoning cases related to the consumption of sandwiches of "Hung Rui Chen" (Horng Ryen Jen) (in case of any problem with the transliteration, the name in Chinese shall prevail), and again urged the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
"An additional cluster was identified yesterday in which four persons consumed the sandwiches with onset earlier," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The cluster involved three males and one female, aged between 7 and 50, who developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 17 to 26 hours after consuming the sandwiches on July 26 and 27. Three sought medical attention and all of them are in stable condition. The sandwiches were purchased from PIAGO in Telford Plaza, Kowloon Bay, on July 26.
Meanwhile, two more clusters were identified today in which four females developed similar symptoms about nine to 22 hours after consuming the sandwiches on July 26 and 29. Three sought medical attention with two of them requiring hospitalisation and one has been discharged. All are in stable condition. The stool specimen from one of them tested positive for Group D Salmonella.
The sandwiches were purchased in city'super in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, and in APITA in Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing, on July 26 and 29 respectively.
As of 5pm today, the CHP had identified a total of 34 clusters affecting 96 persons. In a previously reported cluster, two sandwich samples collected from the affected persons tested positive for Group D Salmonella. Investigations are proceeding.
All the reported cases bought and consumed the sandwiches before investigation and control measures instituted by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), and no additional cases have been reported after the control measures were implemented.
"Prolonged storage of food at room temperature may allow pathogens to grow and produce toxins. Members of the public should avoid consuming cooked or ready-to-eat food, including sandwiches, that has been kept at room temperature for several hours," the spokesman said.
For more information on microbiological risks of sandwiches, members of the public may visit the thematic website of the CFS (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fst/whatsnew_fst_Mirco_Sandwichs.html).
To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
* Eat thoroughly cooked food;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Buy food from reliable and licensed restaurants and food suppliers only;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* 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/Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:26
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