Press Release

Suspected gastroenteritis outbreak in a tour group

6 January 2014

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak involving 18 people of a tour group today (January 6) and urged members of the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene.

The affected, comprising six males and 12 females aged from 6 to 82, are members of a tour group who had visited Korea from December 31, 2013 to January 4, 2014. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting from January 2.

Thirteen of them sought medical treatment from a hospital in Korea and no hospitalisation was required.

All the affected persons are currently in stable condition. The CHP's investigation is ongoing to determine whether the outbreak is associated with food poisoning.

A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning:

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, and after using the toilet;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faeces, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of household bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water);
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food.

The public may visit the CHP's website ( www.chp.gov.hk ) or call the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information on acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning.