The number of people linked to food-poisoning cases after eating at The Astor buffet has risen to 14 as of September 5, and the restaurant has suspended operations for cleaning and disinfection. All those affected had eaten at the restaurant’s buffet.
The Centre for Health Protection and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department inspected the restaurant, collected food samples for testing and required it to take control measures.
The latest reported group involved six people who ate at the restaurant between August 29 and 31. They developed symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain and fever about 16 to 40 hours later.
Earlier case groups were reported to have increased from seven to eight affected people. All reported patients were in a stable condition and did not require hospitalisation.
The Astor said it would voluntarily close for 48 hours on September 5 and 6 for thorough cleaning and disinfection. It has stopped selling the relevant food items, changed suppliers for some higher-risk buffet foods and said it would continue co-operating with the authorities.
The Centre for Health Protection urged anyone who ate at The Astor between August 29 and September 2 and later developed gastrointestinal symptoms or a fever to seek medical attention immediately.
Reports differ in how the newer cases are grouped: one described seven additional people reporting symptoms after eating at the restaurant, while other reports described three new cases involving six people. As of September 5, the cumulative total was reported as 14, but the supplied reports do not establish the exact food source, laboratory findings or when the restaurant will reopen.