Bread poisoning in Ho Chi Minh City: Bacterial gene sequencing

(Dan Tri) - At noon on November 12, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health updated the latest situation in the case of hundreds of people being poisoned after eating bread in the locality.

Accordingly, as of 9:00 a.m. on November 12, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City reported to the Department of Health that they had received and treated a total of 304 cases of health problems after eating banh mi toad at two branches of the "Miss B" shop located on Nguyen Thai Son Street (Hanh Thong Ward) and Le Quang Dinh Street (Binh Loi Trung Ward).

Of these, 244 cases have been discharged in stable condition, and 60 patients are currently receiving inpatient treatment. One severe case had to be treated in intensive care at Gia Dinh People's Hospital. As of this morning, the patient has been weaned off the ventilator and has stable vital signs.

Regarding test results, up to now, the treating hospital has detected the pathogens as Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella spp from the patient's blood and stool cultures.

A case related to the treatment at Children's Hospital 2 (Photo: Contributor).

In addition, there was one case where the blood culture test was positive for Staphylococcus coagulase-negative. According to the report of Gia Dinh People's Hospital, this case was due to external infection during microbiological testing. This group of bacteria does not produce toxins in the intestine and does not cause food poisoning.

Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health determined that Salmonella is the agent causing poisoning symptoms.

The Ho Chi Minh City Health Management Agency has directed hospitals and the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) to continue coordinating with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) to conduct microbiological culture tests and gene sequencing of isolated strains.

The action is aimed at clarifying the cause and factors related to this cluster of food poisoning cases.

Previously, speaking to Dan Tri reporter, the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said that based on the available data, it is not possible to conclude what is the cause of the mass food poisoning. Currently, the authorities are still urgently investigating and handling the case.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said it has directed hospitals to coordinate with research units to conduct gene sequencing of the bacteria recorded in the above incident (Photo: Hospital).

Regarding the above incident, the Department of Food Safety ( Ministry of Health ) requested that localities require hospitals treating patients to focus resources and provide intensive care to ensure the safety of patients' lives and health;

Organize investigations and trace the origin of food suspected of causing poisoning; take food samples and specimens for testing to find the cause; identify raw material suppliers; strictly handle food safety violations (if any), and publicly disclose the results to promptly warn the community;

Strengthen prevention and supervision of food service establishments.

The Food Safety Department also requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to continue strictly implementing the Ministry of Health's instructions on strengthening food safety, preventing fake food and food poisoning.

The Department of Food Safety must also report the results of handling the above case to the Ministry of Health according to regulations for synthesis and monitoring.

Request to investigate the case of dozens of workers suspected of food poisoning

On November 11, the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) issued a document requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to urgently implement contents related to the case of dozens of workers suspected of food poisoning in the locality.

Previously, in Dong Hung Thuan ward, a company was reported to have a suspected food poisoning case. This unit signed a contract to provide industrial meals with another unit in Hanoi in the form of organizing a kitchen at the enterprise and having a certificate of food safety qualified facility.

After the lunch with 410 meals for workers, 50 cases of nausea, stomachache, red rash, itchy face... appeared and were taken to medical units.

The Food Safety Department requested that authorities direct hospitals to focus resources on actively treating patients suspected of food poisoning, so as not to affect their health and lives.

At the same time, organize investigations and trace the origin of food to clearly identify the source of raw materials and food suspected of causing poisoning; take food and disease samples for testing to find the cause; investigate and strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any).

The Department also requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to strengthen propaganda and guidance for food service establishments to ensure food safety conditions, strictly control the origin and source of food ingredients, ensure hygiene throughout the process of food preparation, processing, transportation, three-step food inspection, and food sample storage.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/vu-ngo-doc-sau-khi-an-banh-mi-o-tphcm-giai-trinh-tu-gen-vi-khuan-20251112115056127.htm