WSD urges public to be alert to fraudulent SMS message
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (November 20) alerted the public to a fraudulent SMS message purportedly issued by the department.
The WSD recently received enquiries from members of the public concerning an SMS message purportedly issued by the department. The message requested that recipients settle outstanding payments and click a link (https://wsd-gov.com), which is not a WSD website address. The department has reported the case to the Police.
The WSD clarified that it did not send the SMS message in question and will not direct customers to other websites with hyperlinks embedded in an SMS message. The WSD reminded that the department is registered in SMS Sender Registration Scheme by the Office of the Communications Authority. All SMS messages issued by the department will include the prefix "#" in the SMS Sender ID for easy identification by the public.
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the WSD's customer enquiry hotline at 2824 5000.
CHP investigates two food poisoning clusters
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 20) investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting seven persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
The first cluster involved one male and three females aged between 26 and 28, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever about 6.5 to 57 hours after they had lunch at Tono Daikiya Japanese Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on November 10.
The second cluster involved two males and one female aged between 37 and 43, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and fever about 38 to 54 hours after they had dinner at the same restaurant on November 14.
Three of the affected persons sought medical advice. None required hospitalisation.
Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the affected persons had consumed common food and the food concerned were durian paste, shrimp sashimi and salmon sashimi.
Personnel from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have conducted an inspection at the restaurant, took food samples for laboratory testing, and instructed the premises concerned to suspend serving of incriminated food items with immediate effect, carry out cleaning and disinfection of the premises and improve food preparation process and food hygiene. The officers have also provided health education related to food safety and environmental hygiene to the staff of the premises.
The CHP and CFS's investigation is ongoing and it cannot rule out that the number of cases will increase. The CHP appeals to persons who have consumed the said food items from the aforementioned restaurant between November 10 and 14 to seek medical advice as soon as possible if they feel unwell.
To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:
Choose pasteurised eggs, egg products or dried egg powder for dishes that often use lightly cooked or uncooked eggs;
Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
Avoid eating raw seafood;
Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;
Store and reheat pre-cooked or leftover foods properly before consumption;
Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
Avoid patronising illegal food hawkers;
Drink boiled water;
Refrain from trying to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
