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Press Release

Suspected food poisoning case under investigation

11 December 2012

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is today (December 11) investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving 34 persons and reminded people to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The case involved 15 men and 19 women aged between 24 and 58. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain about 13 hours after dining at a restaurant in Kwai Tsing district in the evening on December 9.

Nine of them sought medical consultation. One of them required hospitalisation and has been discharged. All the affected people are in a stable condition. The investigation is continuing.

People are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent food-borne diseases. When dining out:

* Patronise only reputable and licensed restaurants;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
* Cook food thoroughly;
* Avoid eating raw seafood;
* Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
* 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.

11 December 2012