Two children poisoned by eating Vietnamese pork sausage are still on ventilators.

Ho Chi Minh City – After receiving an antidote from doctors, two of the three children infected with botulinum toxin from eating street-sold pork sausage are still on ventilators, while the third child is showing good improvement.

On the afternoon of May 19th, representatives from Children's Hospital 2 stated that the 10-year-old patient, after receiving intravenous BAT antitoxin serum, regained consciousness, had stable vital signs, and improved muscle strength, and was transferred to the Internal Medicine department. However, the child subsequently experienced progressively worsening respiratory failure, was intubated, and transferred back to the Intensive Care Unit yesterday.

"Currently, the child's limb muscle strength has not improved, is on low-parameter mechanical ventilation, is being fed through a gastric tube, is conscious but still has drooping eyelids, and the brain MRI did not reveal any abnormalities," the doctor said.

The 13-year-old patient is still on low-parameter mechanical ventilation, is responsive to commands, responds to pain stimuli, and has improved muscle strength in all four limbs.

The eldest son, 14 years old, is progressing the best, no longer requiring a ventilator, and has been transferred to the Internal Medicine department. However, he still has difficulty swallowing and must be fed through a gastric tube.

Botulinum antitoxin was administered to the three babies. Photo: Provided by the hospital. — Botulinum antitoxin was administered to the three babies. Photo: *Provided by the hospital.*

On May 13th, three siblings aged 10-14, along with their aunt, exhibited unusual symptoms after eating pork sausage purchased from an unknown vendor. Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital and Children's Hospital 2 confirmed that the three children had botulinum poisoning.

Vietnam has only two vials of botulinum antitoxin left, currently held by the General Hospital in the northern mountainous region of Quang Nam after treating patients who ate fermented salted fish in March. Doctors quickly coordinated the distribution of the antidote to Ho Chi Minh City.

In the early morning of May 16th, the medication was delivered to Children's Hospital 2 and administered to three children.

Botulinum is an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by anaerobic bacteria – bacteria that thrive in enclosed environments such as canned food, or food environments that do not meet the standards for inhibiting bacterial growth.

Symptoms of botulinum poisoning include abdominal pain, muscle pain, fatigue, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, and generalized muscle weakness. Eventually, the patient experiences difficulty breathing or respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The onset of these signs varies depending on the amount of botulinum ingested.

Experts advise people to cook food thoroughly and boil water before drinking, and to choose food from reliable sources that is of good quality and safe. Be cautious with sealed foods that have changed in smell or color, and with canned goods that are bulging or open.

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