The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today is investigating three clusters of suspected food poisoning cases involving five people.
The first cluster involved two females, both aged 13, who developed gastroenteritis symptoms, including diarrhoea, fever and vomiting about 10 to 15 hours after consuming desserts at a food premises in Aberdeen on October 31. Both of them sought medical treatment and required hospitalisation.
The second group involved a male and a female aged 13 and 50 respectively. They developed similar symptoms about 9 to 11 hours after having desserts bought from the same premises on the same day. They sought medical consultation and were hospitalised.
The third case involved a nine-year-old male who developed similar symptoms about 9 hours after eating desserts bought from the same premises on the same day. He sought medical treatment and was hospitalised.
All the affected are still in hospital in stable condition. Investigation is on-going.
Members of the public 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.
