The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 3) investigating a case of suspected food poisoning, and hence reminded the public to beware of vegetables containing calcium oxalate raphide.

     The female patient, aged 61, developed numbness and swelling over tongue and lips, vomiting and epigastric pain shortly after consuming a wild taro at home yesterday (August 2). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital on the same day and was admitted for further management subsequently. She is now in a stable condition. The clinical diagnosis was suspected calcium oxalate raphide poisoning.

     Initial investigations revealed that the wild taro the patient had consumed was picked near Siu Hang San Tsuen in Fanling. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     Taro is a popular ingredient used to prepare various dishes and desserts. However, some plants look like taro but contain toxins which can cause food poisoning. Those containing calcium oxalate raphide (a needle-shaped crystal of the chemical) can injure the skin and mucous membranes and cause irritation, such as numbness and burning sensation of the tongue, mouth and lips, and swelling of the tongue and lips. Consumption of vegetables accidentally mixed with calcium oxalate raphide-containing plants may also cause food poisoning.

     Members of the public should:
 

• Not pick and consume wild plants;
• Purchase vegetables from reliable suppliers; and
• Remove any plants mixed with edible vegetables and wash them thoroughly before cooking and consumption.

     The public may visit the pages on Food Poisoning Related to the Giant Alocasia and Calcium Oxalate Food Poisoning of the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for more information and health advice.

     The Immigration Department announces that due to special incidents occurred in Mong Kok, West Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre located at 12/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas Street, Mong Kok has been closed earlier today (August 3) at 4.50pm. Members of the public with appointments may consider proceeding to West Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre in the days ahead, or to other eight replacement centres today for registration of identity card. The eight replacement centres will operate until 10pm as normal. Their addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:
 

     Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     A public procession is underway in Tai Kok Tsui. With reference to the agreement between the Police and organiser, the participants should proceed from Anchor Street through Hoi Wang Road towards Hoi Ting Road.   

     Police are aware that a large number of participants have deviated from the approved route and proceeded to Nathan Road towards Tsim Sha Tsui, affecting the traffic in the area.

     Police appeal to members of the public not to deviate from the approved route. The participants concerned are participating in an unauthorised assembly, an illegal act. Since the traffic is seriously affected, members of the public traveling to Mongkok and Tsim Sha Tsui and shop owners in the areas should pay attention to the latest situation.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, will depart for Tokyo, Japan, tomorrow morning (August 4) to meet with Japanese senior government officials and trade representatives to exchange views on the latest developments of elderly care and gerontechnology.
 
     Dr Law will meet with the State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Mr Yoshinori Oguchi, and representative of the Cabinet Office to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. He will also call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Kong Xuanyou.
 
     While in Tokyo, he will visit public and private organisations providing elderly-friendly services as well as elderly care and community facilities. He will also attend expert panel discussion sessions with the elderly care food sector and service providers of technology products to get an update on their application of technology in elderly and rehabilitation care.
 
     Representatives of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Hong Kong Jockey Club will join parts of the trip.
 
     Dr Law will arrive in Hong Kong on August 7. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following announcement today (August 3):

     Four patients (aged 45 to 64) in a male ward for severe intellectual disability had presented with respiratory symptoms since July 30. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive to Enterovirus/Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.