10th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is currently investigating a food poisoning cluster involving a total of 36 individuals who travelled on flights arriving in Hong Kong from Nepal. This investigation follows an initial cluster reported on 8th January, which is epidemiologically linked to a second cluster identified on 9th January.
The latest report involves 20 passengers, comprising 14 males and six females aged between 11 and 51, from eight different families or groups. These individuals displayed symptoms of food poisoning, including vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever, approximately 10 to 30 minutes after consuming in-flight meals. Thirteen of the affected passengers sought medical attention upon arrival on 9th January, although none required hospitalisation. Investigations revealed that, apart from the in-flight meals, no common food items were consumed before boarding.
The initial cluster reported on 8th January has now expanded to include 16 individuals. Among the new cases are one male and five females. Of these 16 people, nine were connected through a shared exchange group, while the remaining seven were unrelated. Similar symptoms arose shortly after their meals on the flight, and no common food was consumed prior to boarding.
The CHP is conducting a thorough investigation, examining various food items served on the flights, such as bread, fruits, beetroot salad, lamb rice, chicken rice, and ice cream. Investigators have collected samples from food batches that were not served to passengers on those flights for testing.
While the CHP continues its inquiry, there is a possibility that the number of affected individuals may rise. Staff from the CHP and the Centre for Food Safety have inspected the Cathay Pacific Catering Service (H.K.) Limited, which provided the meals, as well as the aircraft involved. Initial findings indicated that the food was stored and prepared under appropriate conditions. However, due to the manual preparation required for the beetroot salad, the CHP has instructed the immediate suspension of its supply as a precautionary measure.
The CHP has also reported the incidents to the World Health Organization and the Nepalese health authorities, seeking information on any similar cases among passengers on flights from Nepal to other destinations. Passengers who travelled on Cathay Pacific Airways flight CX640 from Kathmandu to Hong Kong on 7th and 8th January are urged to contact the CHP hotline for follow-up and medical monitoring. The hotline, operational from 9th to 17th January, will provide assistance from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on weekends. Those experiencing symptoms such as fever or malaise should seek medical advice immediately.
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