Suspected food poisoning of 12 people

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Suspected food poisoning of 12 people"

Cathleen Quinn
5 years ago
Views:

investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 12 people having a buffet dinner at a hotel in Admiralty.

Symptoms such as stomachache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue developed in succession after 3 to 40 hours.

According to the data from the Centre for Food Safety, an average of about 800 food poisoning outbreaks affecting more than 3,000 people have occurred in Hong Kong

Source: Adapted from various newspapers dated 19 March 2010; Website of Centre for Food Safety, 27 May 2010. Downloaded from http://www.cfs.gov.

1 Data-response Questions 1. Consider the following information: Source 1 Suspected food poisoning of 12 people after having seafood dinner in hotel The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 12 people having a buffet dinner at a hotel in Admiralty. It was reported that they had food including lobster, oysters and sashimi for the buffet. Symptoms such as stomachache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue developed in succession after 3 to 40 hours. Four of them visited the doctor but subsequent hospitalization was not required. According to the data from the Centre for Food Safety, an average of about 800 food poisoning outbreaks affecting more than 3,000 people have occurred in Hong Kong each year since 2005, with bacterial food poisoning being the most common culprit. Around 80% of them were related to food premises and food businesses. Source: Adapted from various newspapers dated 19 March 2010; Website of Centre for Food Safety, 27 May Downloaded from Source 2 Quality Seawater Assurance Scheme In order to enhance the quality of fish tank water at the source and throughout the whole supply chain, the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) has initiated a voluntary Quality Seawater Assurance Scheme (QSAS) for seawater suppliers and seafood traders in Hong Kong since January It is to encourage self-regulation of the local seawater suppliers and the seafood industry to obtain two types of accreditation status: Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier and Quality Seawater Logo Holder. 8

2 Demonstration (b) (i) Referring to Sources 2 and 3, identify and explain the requirements of obtaining the accreditation status of Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier and Quality Seawater Logo Holder. (3 marks) Ans. The conditions required to obtain the accreditation status as an Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier are to supply quality fish tank seawater to premises with the treatment of clean natural seawater or preparation of synthetic seawater. Seawater suppliers should fulfil the following major requirements which include securing a good quality source of seawater, adopting proper seawater extraction procedures, installing effective filtration and disinfection systems, performing timely equipment cleaning and maintenance, maintaining routine seawater sampling and analysis reports and keeping proper records of seawater extraction and cleaning and maintenance of equipment. Any seafood restaurants or sales outlets that utilize seawater from Accredited Quality Seawater Suppliers or prepare their own synthetic seawater using marine salts and tap water are eligible to apply. Successful applicants can display the Quality Seawater Logo in their premises so that customers know the seawater quality of the seafood is ensured. I d e n t i f i e s p r e l i m i n a r i l y t h e requirements for becoming an Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier. T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier and Quality Seawater Logo Holder are not listed out. Focus on the requirements of the question by identifying the conditions for becoming a Quality Seawater Logo Holder, in addition to explaining those of an Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier. The length of the answer should be balanced between explaining the requirements of becoming a Quality Seawater Logo Holder and an Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier. 13

Website of the Office for National Statistics, 19 May 2010. Downloaded from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget. asp?

3 Theme 1 Understanding of Public Health Data-response Questions 1. Consider the following information: Source 1 Mortality rate per million population in the Britain ( ) Source: Website of the Office for National Statistics, 19 May Downloaded from asp?id=952 Source 2 International events related to Britain in Year Event First World War 1918 Global Influenza Pandemic Great Depression Second World War 41

4 Liberal Studies: Data-response and Extended Response Questions Public Health Extended Response Questions 1. Consider the following information: WHO supports developing countries in combating Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic On 14 July 2009, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun said it was impossible to satisfy all demands for vaccination due to the limited ability of pharmaceutical factories in producing vaccine, in spite of the threat of Influenza A (H1N1) to global population. Poor countries obviously encountered problems in obtaining vaccine. The damage could be very serious in case of epidemic outbreaks in these countries. Hence, the WHO needed adequate capital and vaccines to assist these countries in controlling the epidemic. Serveral countries later announced the provision of some vaccines, capital and technological assistance to those countries in need. Some vaccine manufacturers also donated vaccines or sold them at lower price, with one of them donating 50 million doses of vaccine to the WHO. According to the list of developing countries, a total of 95 countries were eligible to obtain the donated vaccines. The WHO hoped that the vaccines could be sent to 14 of the countries in February next year and estimated that the vaccines could cover 10% of the population in these countries. In early 2010, some affluent countries (including the US) experienced serious excess supply of vaccines of Influenza A (H1N1), whereas some poor countries only obtained very few vaccines despite the confrontation of the epidemic, with only two of them (Azerbaijan and Mongolia) being allocated with vaccines from the WHO in early February. Although the epidemic has alleviated in North America, it still affects countries in North Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Experts are worried about the unbalanced allocation of vaccine and inefficiencies in international coordination. Source: Adapted from various newspapers dated from 14 July 2009 to 26 February (a) Referring to the above information, what is the role of the WHO on the use and allocation of resources against an epidemic? Explain. (8 marks) (b) Why did the WHO regard the danger of pandemic influenza in poor countries as the most serious? Explain. (12 marks) 82

5 Liberal Studies: Data-response and Extended Response Questions Public Health (c) Referring to Source 3 and according to your knowledge, analyze the impact of loosening public light regulation in Hong Kong on the Hong Kong government and three related industries. (6 marks) Impact Government Industry 1 Industries Industry 2 Industry 3 (d) From the viewpoint of protecting citizens health, the government should strengthen public light regulation and cancel A Symphony of Lights. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to Source 4. (10 marks) 102

Consider the following information: Source 1 Source: Centre for

6 Exam Practice Theme 2 Science, Technology and Public Health Extended Response Questions 5. Consider the following information: Source 1 Source: Centre for Health Protection, 5 February Downloaded from poster_highrisk.pdf 133

AN AIRLINE EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES DR NIGEL DOWDALL HEAD OF AVIATION HEALTH UNIT UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY

AN AIRLINE EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES DR NIGEL DOWDALL HEAD OF AVIATION HEALTH UNIT UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY Slide 1 AN AIRLINE EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES Dr Nigel Dowdall