Press Release

Suspected food poisoning under investigation

13 July 2006

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 13) received notification of a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving 33 residents and five staff members of an elderly home in Kwai Chung.

The affected people, comprising 10 men and 28 women aged between 43 and 101, developed gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, from noon yesterday to about 8 am today.

The symptoms of the affected persons were generally mild. None of them required hospitalization.

CHP's initial investigations showed that the symptoms were compatible with food poisoning caused by bacteria. Further investigation is in progress.

CHP reminded members of the public, especially food handlers, to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases. They are advised to take the following measures:

• Clean and cook food thoroughly before consumption, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
• Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet;
• Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross contamination;
• Keep raw and cooked food separately;
• Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degree Celsius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and
• Keep the environment clean.