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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected outbreak of food poisoning involving 15 students of a primary school in Yuen Long.
The group of 11 boys and four girls are aged from 7 to 10. They developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting half an hour to eight hours after consuming meals provided by a supplier during lunch time at school yesterday (December 20).
Nine of them sought medical treatment from private doctors. None of them required hospitalisation.
CHP's initial investigations showed that bacteria could be the likely cause for the outbreak. Further investigation is in progress.
CHP reminded people, especially food handlers, to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases. They are advised to take the following measures:
* Do not consume food that has been discoloured or tastes abnormal;
* Consume the take-away food as soon as possible;
* Do not keep it under room temperature for more than two hours;
* Reheat the food thoroughly before consumption; and
* Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after going to the toilet.
Members of the trade are reminded to:
* Obtain raw materials from reliable sources;
* Clean and cook food thoroughly before serving, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
* Keep raw and cooked foods separately to reduce the risk of cross-contamination;
* Cold dishes should be kept at 4℃ or below and hot-served foods, at 60℃ or above over warming devices;
* Food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours; and
* Observe good personal and environmental hygiene.
Ends/Friday, December 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:01
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