20 Feb 2009
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (February 20) is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning involving 15 people and reminded members of the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involved two men and five women aged from 26 to 31 who had a lunch buffet at a hotel in Admiralty on February 9. They developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. One of them sought medical treatment and did not require hospitalisation.
The second group involved six men and two women aged from 1.5 to 56 who had dinner buffet at the same hotel on February 15. They developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Five of them sought medical treatment. One was admitted in private hospital in stable condition.
CHP reminded people, especially food handlers, to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
People are advised to take the following measures:
* Do not consume food that has been discoloured or tastes abnormal; 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 to customers, 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.