Ho Chi Minh City: Dozens of students suffer from food poisoning

On the afternoon of March 30, a representative of the leadership of District 11 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the hospital is treating dozens of suspected cases of food poisoning.

Specifically, from noon to afternoon on March 29, the Emergency Department and the Pediatrics Department of District 11 Hospital received 37 suspected cases of food poisoning from a convoy of Tan Tuc Secondary School (Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) going to Dam Sen Cultural Park.

Among the 37 patients, there are 33 students of the school (aged 13-15), two teachers, a driver and a 6-year-old child who is a relative of a member of the group.

All patients were hospitalized with symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting.

Doctors have performed clinical examination, treated symptoms, and rehydrated...

By the evening of March 29, most of the patients had stabilized and were discharged from the hospital, with only two remaining in the hospital for continued monitoring.

Taking medical history, the patients said that previously, during the trip, the group stopped to buy bread at a facility in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding this incident, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, said that bread is suspected to be the cause of food poisoning for the group.

Authorities have taken samples for testing to clarify the cause.

Previously, on March 26-27, a number of students of the Tue DucEducation System, namely Tue Duc Primary-Middle School and Tam Tue Duc Primary-Middle School (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) had symptoms of stomach pain after eating lunch, snacks, and breakfast at school.

According to the school's report, on March 26, Tue Duc Primary and Secondary School (located on Luong Dinh Cua Street, An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City) recorded 38 students suspected of food poisoning, of which 2 students at home and 2 students at school showed suspicious symptoms; 34 other students had one of 3 symptoms: headache, vomiting, diarrhea after eating at school.

The suspected food poisoning occurred during lunch and snack on March 25 and morning of March 26.

The Department of Food Safety ( Ministry of Health ) has sent an official dispatch requesting the Department of Food Safety of Ho Chi Minh City to organize an investigation and trace the origin of food to clearly identify the source of raw materials and food for the processing facility suspected of causing poisoning; take food samples and specimens for testing to find the cause.

The authorities will temporarily suspend the operation of meal processing facilities suspected of causing food poisoning; will strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any) and publicize the results to promptly warn the community; strengthen management measures, especially in collective kitchens and meal supply facilities to limit the risk of food poisoning./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-lien-tiep-hang-chuc-hoc-sinh-bi-ngo-doc-thuc-pham-post1023659.vnp