The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 15) investigating an outbreak of food poisoning affecting 14 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The patients, comprising seven men and seven women aged between 16 and 42, developed abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 14 to 48 hours after having a meal at a food premises in Wong Tai Sin on March 11.

     Four of them sought medical consultation and none required hospitalisation. All affected persons are now 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 15, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:47

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