‘Drastic increase’ in food poisoning cases in Hong Kong linked to raw oysters

Hong Kong’s health authorities have warned of a recent “drastic increase” in norovirus-related food poisoning incidents that are all related to raw oyster consumption, with 20 of them being recorded over the past 2½ weeks.

The Centre for Health Protection said on Thursday that it had received 23 reports of food poisoning, involving 69 patients, since January 18.

Among them, 20 cases affecting 57 people were related to norovirus, which typically causes food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis.

“An epidemiological investigation showed that all [norovirus] cases were related to raw oyster consumption. The places of origin of the raw oysters include Korea, France, Ireland, Spain, etc,” Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, the centre’s controller, said.

“In view of the drastic increase in food poisoning cases related to consumption of raw oysters recently, members of the public, especially pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should stay vigilant and avoid consumption of raw oysters or partially cooked bivalve shellfish to prevent infection.”

Among the recent norovirus cases, five patients were hospitalised, but their conditions were stable.