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Press Release

Suspected food poisoning cases under CHP investigation

26 February 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 26) investigating two suspected food poisoning cases affecting nine persons and hence reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The first cluster of cases involved two males and four females, aged from 6 to 61. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 22 to 44 hours after having dinner at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on February 22. Three of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.

The second cluster involved three females aged from 23 to 26. They developed similar symptoms about seven to 27 hours after having dinner in the same restaurant on the same day. All of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.

All the affected persons are now in a stable condition. 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.
26 Feb 2015