28 Jun 2010
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 28) investigating five clusters of suspected food poisoning cases involving 26 people.
The first cluster involved a male and two females aged from 12 to 51 who developed abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea about three to seven hours after consuming food purchased from a restaurant in Jordan on June 26. All of them sought medical treatment but did not require hospitalisation.
The second group involved a male and two females aged from 17 to 56. They developed similar symptoms about three to eight hours after eating food purchased from the same restaurant on June 26. They had sought medical treatment; no hospitalisation was required.
The third cluster involved a male and a female, both of them aged 59. They developed similar symptoms about five to nine hours after eating food purchased from the same restaurant on June 27. They had sought medical treatment; no hospitalisation was required.
The fourth group involved four males and eight females aged from 14 to 80 who developed similar symptoms about two to 22 hours after consuming food from the same restaurant on June 26. Six of them sought medical treatment. No hospitalisation was required.
The fifth cluster involved a male and five females aged two and 71. They developed similar symptoms about four to eight hours after eating food purchased from the same restaurant on June 27. They had sought medical treatment. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to hospital in stable condition.
Investigation is on-going.
Members of the public are reminded to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent food-borne diseases. When dining out:
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters in a buffet;
* Drink boiled water;
* Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
* 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.