CHP investigates two suspected puffer fish poisoning cases
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 17) investigating two suspected puffer fish poisoning cases, and reminded members of the public not to consume puffer fish.
Puffer fish, Photo source: online image
The first case involves two females, aged 31 and 52. They cooked and consumed at home a puffer fish that was caught by a friend yesterday (November 16). Approximately two hours later, they developed limb numbness, nausea, dizziness and generalised weakness. They sought medical attention at hospitals today and were admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment respectively.
The second case involves a 57-year-old female, who developed limb numbness, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhoea four hours after consuming a puffer fish cooked by herself, which was bought from a sampan at the Aberdeen pier yesterday. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital today and was admitted for treatment. The CHP has referred the case to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow up.
The three patients are now in stable condition. Preliminary investigations have not found any epidemiological link between the two cases.
The tetrodotoxin in puffer fish is a potent water-soluble neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system. It is primarily concentrated in the liver, gonads and skin of puffer fish. This heat-stable toxin does not decompose during cooking, drying or freezing.
Tetrodotoxin intoxication can affect the respiratory and circulatory systems and may be fatal in severe cases. Currently, there is no known antidote or antitoxin to decompose tetrodotoxin. Members of the public are advised to avoid purchasing and preparing puffer fish or unknown fish for consumption to prevent tetrodotoxin-related food poisoning.
The Centre for Health Protection. Photo source: reference image
Boccia and Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy wheelchair fencing competition of 12th NGD and 9th NSOG to be held tomorrow
The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) announced today (December 8) that the boccia and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy wheelchair fencing competition of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) will be held from tomorrow (December 9) to December 14 at Kai Tak Arena and Ma On Shan Sports Centre respectively.
Hong Kong will stage all boccia events including men's and women's individual, double and team events, and 14 gold medals will be awarded. The boccia competition will comprise nearly 100 athletes joining from 13 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao competing for honours, and Hong Kong will field 11 men and eight women athletes to compete. The competition schedule is as follows:
Date |
Time |
Competition details |
December 9
(Tuesday) |
10am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 6pm |
Men's and women's individual events: group stage |
December 10
(Wednesday) |
December 11
(Thursday) |
10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
Men's and women's individual events: group stage and knockout rounds |
December 12
(Friday) |
10am to noon and 2pm to 4.30pm |
Men's and women's individual events: semifinals and finals |
December 13
(Saturday) |
10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm |
Men's and women's double and group events: group stage and round-robin matches |
December 14
(Sunday) |
10 am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm |
Men's and women's double and group events: round-robin matches, semifinals and finals |
As for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy wheelchair fencing competition, Hong Kong will also stage all events including men's and women's individual and team foil, épée, and sabre competitions, and 24 gold medals will be awarded. Over 80 athletes joining from 10 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao will compete for medals, with Hong Kong sending seven male and six female athletes. The competition schedule is as follows:
Date |
Time |
Competition details |
December 9
(Tuesday) |
9am to 5pm |
Men's sabre individual (Category A and B) and Women's foil individual (Category A and B) |
December 10
(Wednesday) |
Men's sabre team, Women's épée individual (Category C), Women's foil team and Men's épée individual (Category C) |
December 11
(Thursday) |
Men's foil individual (Category A and B) and Women's épée team (Category A and B) |
December 12
(Friday) |
Men's foil team, Women's sabre individual (Category C),Women's épée team and Men's sabre individual (Category C) |
December 13
(Saturday) |
Women's sabre individual (Category A and B) and Men's épée individual (Category A and B) |
December 14
(Sunday) |
Men's épée team, Women's foil individual (Category C), Women's sabre team and Men's foil individual (Category C) |
Note: Wheelchair fencers are classified into three categories based on their level of impairment: A, B and C, with A representing the mildest impairment and C the most severe.
Members of the public can purchase tickets through various channels, including the 12th NGD and 9th NSOG official ticketing website (ticket.baygamespara.cn) or by searching for the official mini programme on WeChat, after completing a real-name account registration. Members of the public can also visit 11 designated sales outlets (ww2.ctshk.com/articleDetail?id=4&channelId=-1) of the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited to buy paper tickets for events in the Hong Kong competition region. Furthermore, services are also available for physical ticket purchases for the events held at the relevant venues at the ticket office of the competition area. Tickets for boccia competition are available now, while limited tickets for wheelchair users and their carers for the wheelchair fencing competition are also available.
The ticket offices at Kai Tak Station Square and Ma On Shan Sports Centre have come into operation. The ticket offices will run from 10am to 4pm on non-competition days and will operate one hour before the event starts on event days until ticket verification ceases for that day's event (i.e. 30 minutes before the scheduled finish time). Tickets are sold at Hong Kong dollar prices and accept various electronic payment methods. Real-name registration for ticket sales is adopted and please prepare an identity document for ticket purchase and before entering the venue. Spectators who purchased tickets for their family members or friends using their own accounts via the official ticketing platform should transfer the tickets to their family members or friends 24 hours prior to the start of the relevant session. Each person should carry their own e-tickets to facilitate verification and multiple entries/exits.
Official franchised merchandise stores will be set up on-site at the two competition venues, selling a variety of franchised products with Hong Kong characteristics incorporated and related to the competition events. Members of the public are welcome to visit and make purchases.
Outside the competition venue, there will also be competition villages with various game booths, including digital interactive games, booth games and art workshops themed around the competition events hosted by Hong Kong competition region. The competition villages for both boccia and wheelchair fencing events will be open on December 13 and 14 from 10am to 5pm. Members of the public are welcome to try the games and purchase tickets to watch the competitions, and cheer for athletes in person.
Source: AI-found images
