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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 18) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting five persons and reminds the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involves three women aged 22 to 24 who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting about four to 17 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Tsim Sha Tsui on August 15. One of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.
The other cluster comprises two women aged 24 and 25 respectively who developed similar symptoms about 13 to 14 hours after having dinner at the same premises on August 14. One of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.
All the affected persons are now in stable condition. The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.
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;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
* 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/Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:33
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