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Press Release

Contaminated Radix Strobilanthis Forrestii

29 July 2010

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) has advised members of the public in possession of Radix Strobilanthis Forrestii, which was involved in an atropine poisoning case reported by the Hospital Authority on July 22, to find out from their Chinese medical practitioner or Chinese herbal medicine retailer whether the herb originated from wholesaler Wong Chak Kee Limited and if so, immediately stop using it.

Source tracing investigation by the DH revealed that the incriminated batch of herb was imported from a herb processing factory in Fo Shan by wholesaler Wong Chak Kee Limited in January 2010. The herb was delivered in prepacked form, so contamination was unlikely to take place locally.

The spokesman said the contaminated herb should be submitted to the Chinese Medicine Division of DH on 2/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.

Members of the public should seek advice from their attending Chinese medicine practitioners if feeling unwell after taking Radix Strobilanthis Forrestii. So far, no report has been received about patients feeling unwell after taking the herb.

The spokesman said the public appeal was made as Radix Strobilanthis Forrestii is commonly available in the market.

While a recall of the contaminated herb from the market is underway, Wong Chak Kee Limited has set up a hotline, 2546 8754, for enquiry.

29 July 2010