The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 28) investigating three suspected food poisoning outbreaks affecting 12 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
 
     The first cluster involved two males and two females aged 2 to 44 who developed abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 11 to 25 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Tsim Sha Tsui on November 24.
 
     The second cluster comprises three males and two females aged 3 to 42 who developed similar symptoms about 12 to 19 hours after having dinner at the same food premises on the same day.
 
     The third cluster comprises two males and one female aged 7 to 39 who developed similar symptoms about 23 to 39 hours after having dinner at the same food premises on the same day.
 
     All of the affected persons are now in stable condition. Ten of them sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation. The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and 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:

• 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/Monday, November 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:22

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