The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 24) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involved one man and two women, aged 39 to 48, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 21 to 33 hours after having lunch at a restaurant in Sha Tin on May 10.
 
     Another cluster involved four men aged 31 to 42, who developed similar symptoms about 31 to 42 hours after having lunch at the same restaurant on the same day.

     Six of the affected persons sought medical advice and none required hospitalisation. All affected persons are in a stable condition.
 
    "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP 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:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• 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 utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• 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/Friday, May 24, 2019
Issued at HKT 19:16

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