Press Release

CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters

18 May 2016

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 18) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting eight persons and reminds the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The first cluster involved one man and three women, aged from 6 to 40, who developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about nine to 10 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Tsim Sha Tsui on May 15.

The other cluster also comprises one man and three women, aged from 4 to 60, who developed similar symptoms about five to 40 hours after having dinner at the same food premises on the same day.

All of the affected persons are now in a stable condition and had sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.

To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• 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.