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(Media-Newswire.com) - The Centre for Health Protection (
CHP ) of the Department of Health today ( August 1 ) reminded members
of the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene to
prevent food-borne diseases.
The appeal was made following reports of two suspected food
poisoning cases involving restaurants in Sheung Wan
and Tung Chung respectively, affecting a total of 17 people.
The first case involved a restaurant in Sheung
Wan. Three clusters of people, including two men and five women aged
between 23 and 55, were affected. The first cluster, which comprised
one man and two women, developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal
pain, diarrhoea and nausea six to 13 hours after
having meal at the restaurant on July 17.
Affected people in the second and third clusters developed
similar symptoms 10 to 13 hours after having meals at the restaurant yesterday.
Of them, five consulted private doctors or the Accident and
Emergency Department of public hospitals while another one was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital.
All of them are in stable condition.
In the second case, 10 affected people ( four
men and six women aged between 27 and 43 ) developed gastroenteritis symptoms
including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting
three to eight hours after having a lunch buffet at a restaurant in Tung
Chung on July 31. One of the affected people consulted a private doctor
and no hospitalisation was required.
Further investigation is in progress.
When dining out, members of the public should:
* 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 and raw
oysters in 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;
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to toilet.
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