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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 8) 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 today in which two persons consumed the sandwiches with onset earlier," a spokesman for the CHP said.
A woman aged 38 and a boy aged three developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 26 to 27 hours after consuming the sandwiches on July 26. Both sought medical attention and one of them has been discharged upon hospitalisation.
The sandwiches were purchased by their relatives in Taiwan on July 25.
As of 5pm today, the CHP had identified a total of 31 clusters affecting 88 persons. In addition to laboratory testing results reported earlier, stool specimens from two more cases tested positive for Group D Salmonella.
The two patients are now in stable condition. Investigations are proceeding.
"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 that has been kept at room temperature for several hours," the spokesman 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:
* 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/Saturday, August 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:31
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