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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two reports of suspected food poisoning outbreaks involving 14 people who felt sick after dining in a Mong Kok restaurant.
The first group comprised two females, aged 13 and 41, who had dinner at the restaurant on April 8. They developed symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea 11 to 12 hours afterwards. They sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital and no hospitalisation was required. They are now in stable condition.
In the other case, 12 people (1 male and 11 females aged 22 to 34) developed symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea three to 40 hours after dining at the restaurant on April 10. Six of them sought medical treatment from private doctors or government out-patients clinics and two others attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. All are in stable condition and none require hospitalisation.
Initial investigations suggested that bacteria was likely to be the causative agent of these outbreaks.
People are reminded to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent food-borne diseases. When dining out:
* Only patronise reputable and licensed restaurants;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi 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;
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
Ends/Thursday, April 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:05
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