SANTIAGO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 400 people have been stricken with food poisoning after eating raw or undercooked sea food in Chile's fifth region since Nov. 20, the region's Health Ministry said on Thursday.

    About 73 percent of the cases were in the Valparaiso province, while the rest were in San Antonio, both around 105 km from the Chilean capital Santiago, the ministry said.

    Most of the infected people ate seafood prepared at home without due care. And about 260 people suffered from severe food poisoning after eating clams and shellfish.

    The ministry put in place a Control and Vigilance Plan to inspect shellfish sales and transport points.

    The ministry has called on all citizens to take adequate measures to ensure hygiene.