The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 12) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven persons and reminds the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
The first cluster involves three men and one woman aged 16 to 17 who developed fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea about 15 to 19 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Mong Kok on June 5. None of them sought medical consultation.
The other cluster comprises three men aged 20 to 53 who developed similar symptoms about 17 to 20 hours after having dinner at the same premises on June 9. Two of them sought medical consultation but did not require hospitalisation.
All the affected persons are now in a stable condition. The CHP's 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:
* 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;
* 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.