CHP investigates case of mad honey poisoning
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 6) investigating a case of mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.
A 44-year-old female developed bradycardia, hypotension and dizziness around 30 minutes after consuming honey on October 31. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital and was admitted for treatment. The patient was in stable condition and discharged on November 1. Her clinical diagnosis was mad honey poisoning.
Grayanotoxin was detected in the honey remnant and the patient's urine sample upon testing.
Initial enquiries revealed that the patient brought the honey from Nepal to Hong Kong. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
"Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins which can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur," a spokesman for the CHP explained.
Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:
Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste - grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye as there have been grayanotoxin poisoning cases connected with honey from these areas.
Schools and tertiary students invited to enrol in Hong Kong Flower Show student drawing competition
The Hong Kong Flower Show 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be held at Victoria Park from March 20 to 29. The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition, one of the major activities of the flower show, will be held on March 20. Local primary and secondary school students, as well as full-time tertiary students, are welcome to take part in the competition. Applications are free of charge and will remain open until February 3.
The competition will be conducted in five categories: a Junior Section in Primary School (Primary One to Primary Three); a Senior Section in Primary School (Primary Four to Primary Six); a Junior Section in Secondary School (Form One to Form Three); a Senior Section in Secondary School (Form Four to Form Six); and a Tertiary Institution Section. The competition is scheduled from 9am to noon for primary school categories and the Tertiary Institution Section, and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm for secondary school categories on the day.
The competition will feature students' drawings of floral exhibits or garden displays in the showground with a view to enhancing awareness of conserving plants and the natural environment. Participants may use any form of drawing to illustrate the theme of the competition, "A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong".
For details of the competition, please call 2926 3060/2302 1762 or visit the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2026/drawing.html. Primary and secondary school students should enrol through their schools, while tertiary students are required to enrol individually. Participating schools and entrants of the Tertiary Institution Section should submit applications online on or before February 3.
The upcoming flower show features "A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong" as its main theme, with the stock as its theme flower. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the 14th consecutive year and has been its major sponsor since 2014.
The Hong Kong FLower Show, Photo source: FB
