Cathay Pacific Under Fire Due to Food Poisoning Cases

In a troubling turn of events, Hong Kong's flagship airline, Cathay Pacific Airways, has issued an apology to its passengers following two alarming incidents of suspected food poisoning linked to flights from Nepal. The airline is now actively cooperating with health authorities as they launch an investigation into these incidents that have left travelers feeling unwell.

Recent Incidents on Flight CX640

The most recent case occurred on flight CX640 from Kathmandu, which landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 3:21 AM on Thursday. Over a dozen passengers reported feeling nausea shortly after disembarking. Emergency services were quick to respond, dispatching multiple ambulances to the scene, which resulted in 12 individuals being transferred to North Lantau Hospital for further evaluation.

Previous Incident and Airline's Response

This unsettling trend began a day earlier, when 10 passengers aboard the same flight reported similar symptoms. According to a Cathay Pacific spokesperson, it seems that the origin of the food contamination may have stemmed from outside the airline's operations. Nevertheless, the airline has assured the public that it will handle the situation transparently and will implement the necessary corrective measures if it is determined that the onboard food contributed to the cases.

Affected Passengers and Symptoms

Diving deeper into the details, it was revealed that the group of 10 comprised six men and four women, aged between 21 and 38, who were part of an exchange trip to Nepal. They consumed a takeaway meal—including chicken, cucumber and tomato sandwiches with salad dressing and French fries—around two hours before boarding the flight. Symptoms reportedly began to occur about 10 to 30 minutes after the meal service onboard, which included an assortment of food such as bread, fruits, salad, lamb rice, chicken rice, and even ice cream.

Health Authorities Investigate

The Centre for Health Protection has pointed to the sandwiches as the potential source of the foodborne illness, based on preliminary epidemiological information. Of the 10 affected passengers, although four sought medical advice as soon as they landed, fortunately, none required hospitalization.

Conclusion and Next Steps

As the investigation unfolds, the health authority is diligently checking for any epidemiological links between the two suspected cases, which so far have affected a total of 36 individuals. Passengers who may have been affected are urged to reach out to the Centre for Health Protection for proper assessment by calling their hotline at 2125 2372.

With the health and safety of its passengers at stake, Cathay Pacific's swift action and transparent communication will be crucial in addressing these issues and restoring confidence among travelers. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!