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Jiang Chuqin

Health authorities have expanded an investigation into meals provided by Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways after the number of passengers stricken by food poisoning on two flights from Nepal grew.
The Centre for Health Protection said on Friday it was investigating two food poisoning cases involving 36 passengers who arrived from Kathmandu earlier this week.
“It is believed that there is an epidemiological link between two cases,” the centre said.
The airline apologised again on Friday evening and said it was fully cooperating with the centre.
“Should any food contamination be found to originate from the airline’s in-flight meals, we will report the findings truthfully and transparently and take all necessary corrective actions,” it said.
“The safety and well-being of our people and customers guide every decision we make. We sincerely apologise to the affected customers for any inconvenience caused.”
The number of affected passengers in the first cluster rose from 10 to 16, all of whom suffered food poisoning on Wednesday morning.
Nine of the passengers on board CX640 were among a group taking part in an exchange trip to Nepal and ate the same takeaway meal two hours before boarding.
The 16 passengers developed symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and fever 10 to 30 minutes after eating on the plane.
City authorities indicated earlier that sandwiches they ate before the flight might have caused the food poisoning.
However, later investigations revealed that the other seven stricken passengers did not consume food coming from the same source before the flight.
On Thursday, 20 passengers reported feeling unwell after landing in the morning on the Cathay flight, also numbered CX640, from Kathmandu.
They were from eight different families or groups, comprising 14 male and six female passengers aged between 11 and 51. They did not eat any meals in common except for the one provided during the flight.
These passengers also developed food poisoning symptoms 10 to 30 minutes after eating on board. Thirteen were treated in hospital after arriving in Hong Kong, but none of them needed to be admitted.
The centre said it had collected samples of the food provided on the flights, including bread, fruit, beetroot salad, mutton rice, chicken rice and ice cream, as well as food consumed by the passengers at the airport or in Nepal before boarding the flight.
The beetroot salad has been suspended since it involves many handmade processes and does not need to be reheated before eating.
Passengers who boarded the two flights are urged to call a hotline at 2125 2372 for follow-up and medical surveillance which will be available until January 17.
The centre said on Wednesday night that the sandwiches the first group of patients ate two hours before boarding the flight were “likely” to be the source of the outbreak.
Cathay Pacific also said on Thursday that “the likely source of any food contamination was outside the airline’s operation”, while also apologising.
The company pledged to handle the matter transparently and take all necessary corrective actions should the incidents have involved food served during the flights.
But a passenger in the exchange-trip group complained on social media on Thursday that officials had jumped to conclusions too soon by blaming the preflight meals.
“I also consumed a sandwich, there were so many hours between the sandwiches and the aeroplane meal, and not a single one of us was unwell. All my friends started vomiting only after having the meal on the plane,” the post said, adding that other people had left sick but did not seek medical treatment.


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Hong Kong expands probe after more Cathay passengers on Nepal flights fall ill

Cathay passengers from Kathmandu who suffered food poisoning are sent to North Lantau Hospital for examination. Photo: Handout

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A Cathay spokeswoman has said it appeared the source of food contamination was outside the airline’s operation. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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A spokeswoman for Cathay said cabin crew provided assistance to the passengers and consulted medical advice according to standard procedures. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Centre for Health Protection investigating two food poisoning cases involving 36 passengers who arrived from Kathmandu earlier this week


Centre for Health Protection investigating two food poisoning cases involving 36 passengers who arrived from Kathmandu earlier this week.
