Skip to content

Press Release

Two suspected food poisoning clusters under CHP investigation

23 January 2013

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 23) investigating two imported suspected food poisoning clusters involving 13 persons, and reminded members of the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The first cluster involved four males and five females, aged between 22 and 62, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, malaise, chills and dizziness about six to 28 hours after having lunch at a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 17. Six of them sought medical attention. One of them was admitted to a private hospital and has been discharged.

Another cluster comprising a man and three women, aged from 22 to 33, developed similar symptoms about 14 to 22 hours after eating in the same restaurant on January 20. All of them sought medical consultation from a private hospital and did not require hospitalisation.

All affected persons are currently in stable condition. The CHP's investigations are proceeding.

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 reputable and licensed restaurants;
* 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, at 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.

23 January 2013