The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 8) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting six persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involves one man and three women aged 24 to 30 who developed abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever 11 to 15 hours after their dinner in a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui last night (March 7). Three of them required hospitalisation.

     The other cluster comprises two women aged 32 and 33 who had similar symptoms seven to 18 hours after their lunch in the same restaurant yesterday. Both sought medical advice and none required hospitalisation.

     All affected persons have been in stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP 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:

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

Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:02

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