****************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 6) 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.
"Four additional clusters were identified today in which 12 persons purchased and consumed the sandwiches with onset earlier," a spokesman for the CHP said.
They comprise five males and seven females aged 3 to 70 who developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 12 to 41 hours after consuming the above sandwiches between July 25 and 29. Among them, 10 sought medical attention and one of them has been discharged upon hospitalisation.
These sandwiches were purchased earlier online or from exhibition booths in a shopping centre in Wong Tai Sin and a supermarket in Kowloon Bay between July 24 and 27.
As of 5pm today, the CHP had identified a total of 29 clusters affecting 84 persons. In addition to laboratory testing results reported earlier, a stool specimen from one more case tested positive for Group D Salmonella.
All affected persons 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/Thursday, August 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:02
NNNN