Suspected food poisoning case hits Kenting hotel; probe launched

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) The Pingtung County Public Health Bureau has opened an investigation into a suspected food poisoning case involving seven people who fell ill after they ate breakfast at a hotel in the tourist hotspot of Kenting.

Officials from the bureau said they received a report at 9:10 p.m. Monday from the Kaohsiung City Department of Health regarding suspected food poisoning patients being treated at E-Da Hospital.

The initial findings of an epidemiological investigation by the Kaohsiung department indicated that the incident likely occurred at a hotel in Pingtung County, the Pingtung officials said, and personnel were dispatched to the site to collected samples for testing.

The county health bureau said the seven affected individuals, all employees of a company in New Taipei, have been discharged from the hospital in Kaohsiung, and no related cases have been reported by other hospitals in the county.

Whether the seven individuals were in fact hit by food poisoning will be determined based on test results and the outcome of the epidemiological investigation, the bureau said.

Any follow-up measures will be taken in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, it said.

According to the Kaohsiung City Department of Health, it found that the seven individuals were part of a group of 31 people who checked into Caesar Park Hotel in Kenting on Sunday.

After eating breakfast the next day, some of them developed symptoms such as a fever, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain at around 10 a.m.

A total of seven people reported discomfort and sought medical attention at E-Da Hospital at around 7:15 p.m., the department said, adding that since the food was consumed in Pingtung County, the case had been referred to health authorities there for further investigation.

In response, Caesar Park Hotel in Kenting said Monday that it had taken the initiative to contact the affected individuals to ask about their conditions.

It said that no similar symptoms had been reported by other guests or staff.