CHP investigates cluster of food poisoning involving porcini mushrooms
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 7) investigating a food poisoning case involving four persons who had eaten porcini mushrooms.
Two male and two female patients (aged between 30 and 74) presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever around two to three hours after consuming porcini mushrooms cooked in a residential premise on January 30. They sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and United Christian Hospital, and were admitted on the same day. All of them were discharged after treatment.
Based on their clinical symptoms, the CHP believed that the patients developed food poisoning due to consuming porcini mushrooms. Upon testing, samples of uncooked porcini mushroom from the same batch provided by a patient was confirmed to be a poisonous mushroom species containing certain gastrointestinal irritants that remain even after being cooked.
The investigation revealed that the porcini mushroom concerned was purchased by one of the affected persons from a shop in Lo Wu, Shenzhen, last December. The product concerned was not pre-packaged and did not have any trademark or information on its place of origin.
The CHP has notified the case to the relevant authority of the Mainland, and will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard public health.
Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms such as profuse sweating, hallucinations, comas or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases. If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification.
Members of the public are recommended to take note of the following when choosing or consuming mushrooms locally or overseas:
Buy mushrooms from reputable and reliable suppliers, and notbuy mushroom products which may be mixed with unknown species;
Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic, such as those with growing substrates left with the product, or those which show signs of spoilage such as coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc;
Do not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones; and
Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption.
Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm
As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.
A spokesman for the LD said today (March 15) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.
Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:
(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.
In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.
The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).
Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.
