Press Release

Suspected food poisoning case under CHP investigation

13 February 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 13) investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak affecting 12 persons and hence reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

Based on information from the affected persons, 22 persons had consumed food at a food premises in Yuen Long on February 9. So far, the CHP has reached 17 of them and 12 cases were identified, involving four men and eight women aged between 16 and 30. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting between three and 18 hours after having dinner at the food premises.

One of the patients had sought medical attention and did not require hospitalisation. All the affected persons are now in 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.