KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — A food poisoning outbreak at the Hi-Lai Harbour restaurant in Kaohsiung has resulted in 52 people seeking medical treatment as of 9 a.m. Monday (April 29), according to the Kaohsiung City's Department of Health.
The department is currently conducting microbial culture tests on samples collected from the restaurant.
The health department received reports on Saturday of patrons experiencing diarrhea after dining at the Hi-Lai Harbour a day earlier.
The department dispatched inspectors to the restaurant following the reports. The main symptoms among those affected are abdominal pain and diarrhea, with a few also experiencing nausea and vomiting.
The suspected risky dining periods include the afternoon tea and dinner on April 26, and lunch on April 27.
The health department has asked the restaurant to implement an improvement plan based on the inspection results, strengthen internal management, and complete retraining of all staff.
The restaurant must eliminate all risks before the end of its closure day on April 30 to ensure food safety for the public.
Tseng Shu-hui, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said that according to the health department's investigation, about 200 people dined at the restaurant that day, with some experiencing diarrhea.
The health department is conducting a thorough investigation and specimen collection in accordance with SOPs dealing with food poisoning cases.
