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Press Release

Suspected food poisoning outbreak under CHP investigation

3 September 2014

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 3) investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving five persons and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

Based on information from the affected persons, 17 persons had lunch at a food premises in Kwun Tong yesterday (September 2). So far, the CHP has reached 10 of them and five cases were identified, which involved four men and a woman aged between 30 and 40. They developed body or facial numbness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and dizziness about 15 minutes to one hour after the lunch.

Two of the affected persons sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation. All the affected are in stable condition. 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:

  • Eat thoroughly cooked food;
  • Avoid eating raw seafood;
  • 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;
  • 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.
3 Sep 2014