8th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is currently investigating a food poisoning outbreak involving ten individuals.
The investigation was initiated following a report from Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (CX), indicating that several passengers on a flight arriving in Hong Kong from Kathmandu, Nepal, experienced symptoms of food poisoning shortly after consuming in-flight meals. Symptoms reported included vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever, occurring approximately 10 to 30 minutes post-meal.
Upon the flight’s arrival, the Port Health Division of the CHP promptly boarded the aircraft to conduct epidemiological investigations among the affected passengers. The cluster comprises six males and four females, aged between 21 and 38, with four individuals seeking medical attention upon landing; however, none required hospitalisation.
Preliminary findings from the CHP indicated that the in-flight meal consisted of bread, fruits, salad, lamb rice, chicken rice, and ice cream. Notably, nine of the affected passengers had participated in an exchange trip to Nepal from 28th December, 2024, to 7th January, 2025. In addition to their in-flight meals, these individuals consumed takeaway sandwiches containing chicken, cucumber, and tomato with salad dressing, along with French fries approximately two hours before boarding the flight, which correlates with the onset of symptoms. Based on the available epidemiological data, the sandwiches are considered a likely source of the outbreak.
The CHP is continuing its investigation and has not ruled out the possibility of more cases emerging. As a precautionary measure, food samples from the flight have been collected for testing.
The CHP has appealed to any passengers who were aboard flight CX640 from Kathmandu to Hong Kong on 7th January to contact the CHP hotline at 2125 2372 for follow-up and medical monitoring. The hotline will be operational from 9th January to 10th January, between 9am and 5pm. Passengers experiencing symptoms such as fever or general malaise are advised to seek medical attention promptly.
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