The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) issued a warning yesterday that 26 tourists from the Chinese mainland developed symptoms of gastroenteritis after having a meal at Macau Tower.
According to the statement, the bureau received a report indicating that 26 members of a Hangzhou tour group, consisting of about 160 people in total, developed symptoms of gastroenteritis during their visit to Macau.
The statement said that the illness may be linked to the consumption of raw seafood, such as oysters and salmon, at the 360o Café of Macau Tower.
According to the statement, according to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) investigation, the patients began to come down with symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting on Tuesday evening, adding that based on the meal records and incubation period, the incident was most likely caused by a viral pathogen.
The statement said that the Municipal Affairs Bureau immediately dispatched personnel to investigate, instructed the restaurant involved to suspend sales and seal the relevant products. They started by tracing the source of the various food items. If violations are discovered during the investigation, legal action will be taken, the statement.
The statement also said that as most of the tourists have already returned to the Chinese mainland, the actual number of patients may still increase.
The bureau urged anyone who recently dined at the Macau Tower restaurant and is experiencing discomfort to seek immediate medical attention and report their condition.
The bureau also reminded the food industry to comply with food safety regulations, advising the public to thoroughly cook seafood products, and recommends that high-risk individuals avoid consuming raw seafood.
Photo courtesy of Singapore based Mount Elizabeth Hospitals
