Press Release

Update on suspected food poisoning case related to food premises in Tsim Sha Tsui

27 February 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (February 27) provided an update on its investigation announced yesterday into two suspected cases of food poisoning. All affected persons had consumed food at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on February 22 and 23.

Subsequent to its follow-up investigations, the CHP has newly identified five clusters with 23 affected persons comprising nine men and 14 women aged from 14 to 48. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting about five to 51 hours after having dinner at the restaurant. Eighteen of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation. All the affected persons are currently in stable condition.

This brings to 32 the total number of persons affected so far. Investigation is still 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.