Nearly 79 cases of invasive beta-streptococcus infection were recorded in Hong Kong within 40 days. An investigation by the Centre for Health Protection found that some people had been in contact with freshwater fish such as carp before the onset of the disease.
The Hospital Authority stated yesterday (20th) that 7 patients had died, accounting for about 10% of the infection cases.
A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited Yeung Uk Road Market and Yuen Long Fresh Fish Shop this morning (21st). Among them, many fish stalls in Yeung Uk Road Market were open as usual.
Some freshwater fish stall owners pointed out that after the authorities announced the news, the business volume had increased by nearly 70% to 80%. They emphasized that the stalls had always taken adequate hygiene measures and felt helpless for the business to be greatly affected.
As for the Yuen Long Fish Store in Jidi, there are more than 30 wholesale fish stalls, none of which are open in the morning.
The stall of "Jade Hong Kong Industrial Co., Ltd." visited in one case was also unoccupied, the shop was not enclosed, and no fish was seen in the fish tank.
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The Centre for Health Protection recently announced that some of the cases had visited Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan and the "Ji Di Jiade Hong Kong Industrial Co., Ltd." in Yuen Long; before the onset of the illness, they had contact with freshwater fish such as carp, and some people carried raw fish on their hands. Wound.
The main symptoms of patients are sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis or abscess/cellulitis.
The freshwater fish stalls located in the conspicuous place near the entrance of the market are clearly less crowded, but the nearby fish stalls selling chilled fish are crowded with people.
(Photo by Zeng Kaixin)
Most of the fish stall staff don’t see anyone "picking fish" with bare hands.
The reporter went to Yeung Uk Road Market this morning (21st). Many fish stalls were open as usual. Most fish stall staff put on rubber gloves, and there were no customers "picking fish" with bare hands.
The freshwater fish stalls located in the conspicuous place near the entrance of the market are clearly less crowded, but the nearby fish stalls selling chilled fish are crowded with people.
The freshwater fish stall business is nearly 80%
Mr. Li, who sells freshwater fish, pointed out that after the authorities announced the news, the business volume had increased by nearly 70% to 80%. He said bluntly, "How many people have you seen?"
He also pointed out that the stalls have always taken adequate hygiene measures, including requiring employees to wear gloves. They will also clean the stalls after the stalls are closed every day. Guests are also forbidden to touch freshwater fish with bare hands. Freshwater fish), shocking hygiene problems.”
Mr. Li felt helpless when his business was greatly affected. "Safety measures have been adequate, and there are no solutions if there are bacteria." He also pointed out that how customers deal with fish after buying fish is difficult to control, and he feels helpless about outbreaks.
He also revealed that the authorities had not notified his stall that fish had been infected with Streptococcus B.
Mr. Cheuk from Tsuen Wan Kaifong said that he would go to Yeung Uk Road Market to buy freshwater fish from time to time. However, after he noticed the news, he temporarily planned to buy saltwater fish such as yellow croaker.
(Photo by Zeng Kaixin)
Neighbourhood: I'm not hygienic after people pick me up
Mr. Cheuk from Tsuen Wan Kaifong said that he would buy freshwater fish from the Yeung Uk Road Market from time to time, but after he noticed the news, he temporarily planned to buy yellow croaker. He also noticed that the flow of freshwater fish stalls has been significantly reduced today. ".
There was a case of infection caused by wounds on his hands when handling raw fish. Mr. Zhuo said that when buying fish, he rarely touched the fish pieces with bare hands.
He pointed out that in the past, he would not wear gloves when handling raw fish, but he noticed that this time there was a death case: "There are many people who died and are worried about it. It turned out to be a high risk." So he plans to put on gloves first in the future.
When asked what he had learned about "picking fish," he said with a smile, "Generally, picking is done by knowing how to pick it, usually by estimation and frightening, and if you see a good one, you can buy it if you are not eye-catching."
Some people buy freshwater fish as usual, saying that they believe the authorities will step up inspections
Although some people switched to buying saltwater fish, there were also people who bought freshwater fish as usual.
Ms. Yuan said that she had noticed news that freshwater fish had been infected with beta-streptococcus, but believed that the authorities had strict supervision on the import of freshwater fish, and that inspections should be strengthened after the current case, so she was not too worried.
However, she learned of a fatal case from the reporter's mouth, saying that she "will definitely be more worried after listening."
However, Ms. Yuan said that she would wear gloves first when handling fish because of the strong smell, and she would not touch them with bare hands in the market.
Jidi Jiade wholesale fish stalls have not seen enclosed fish tanks, no fish
A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" went to Yuen Long Fish Shop in Jidi this morning. There are more than 30 wholesale fish stalls arranged in two rows of two-story metal structures, each equipped with a large fish tank, and all of them are off work.
Jiade Hong Kong Industrial Co., Ltd. is located near the center and no one is in the middle. The shop is not enclosed. The aquarium equipment is still on, but no fish is seen in the water.
Other fish stall employees in the vicinity said that they had seen staff from the Department of Health visited the shop earlier, but could not remember the time. At that time, they did not know whether it was related to the B-streptococcus outbreak.
The staff of the congee shop worries about the impact on their business: "Slow people call raw fish porridge"
In one case, the infection was caused by eating raw fish belly porridge. Some porridge shop staff said that they were worried about the impact of their business after learning the news.
He also revealed that many customers usually order raw fish porridge, but these days they are "slowly called".
When asked if he would pay more attention to whether the fish was thoroughly cooked when cooking, he described "I usually overcooked too much".
In some cases, the infection was caused by eating raw fish belly porridge.
(Photo by Zeng Kaixin)
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