Ministry of Health requests tracing of food source suspected of causing poisoning that hospitalized 37 people

The Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health said it has received information about a suspected food poisoning case due to eating bread that caused 37 people to be hospitalized, including 33 students of Tan Tuc Secondary School, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Faced with the above situation, the Food Safety Department has sent an official dispatch requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department to urgently direct hospitals with patients being treated to focus all resources on actively treating patients, not to affect their health and lives, and in case of necessity, to request support for professional consultation with upper-level hospitals.

In addition, the investigation organization clearly identifies the cause of the suspected poisoning according to regulations, traces the origin of the food suspected of causing the poisoning, and takes food and medical samples for testing to find the cause.

Temporarily suspend the operation of the facility suspected of causing poisoning, investigate the facility's implementation of food safety regulations, strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any) and publicize the results to promptly warn the community.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety needs to strengthen propaganda and guidance for street food production and trading establishments, food service establishments, and collective kitchens to ensure hygiene and food safety conditions, strictly implement the management of food ingredients' origin, three-step food inspection, food sample storage, and hygiene in processing stages.

Propagating andeducating people about food safety knowledge and measures to prevent and combat food poisoning, in order to raise awareness, change behaviors and habits that do not ensure food safety in choosing and using food, and not use food of unknown origin, label, or source.

“The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety strictly implements the contents of Official Dispatch No. 6495/BYT-ATTP dated October 22, 2024 of the Ministry of Health on the implementation of Directive No. 38/CT-TTg dated October 11, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening food poisoning prevention and Official Dispatch No. 271/ATTP-NDTT dated February 18, 2025 on ensuring food safety, preventing food poisoning and foodborne diseases in the area in 2025” - the official dispatch of the Department of Food Safety clearly stated.

Previously, on March 29, District 1 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City received 37 cases of abdominal pain, vomiting, and suspected food poisoning. Of these, 2 cases were children who had to be hospitalized in the Pediatrics Department, the remaining 35 cases were treated in the Emergency Department, prescribed medication, and instructed to monitor at home.

Dr. Tran Chanh Xuan, Director of District 11 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that patients suspected of food poisoning were given antibiotics, rehydration, and symptomatic treatment. Of these, 21 cases underwent paraclinical tests such as complete blood cell analysis, liver enzymes (AST, ALT), creatinine, quantitative CRP, and electrolytes.

One child is still being monitored at the hospital, but his health is stable. The remaining cases have also been treated and are recovering well.

According to initial information, the suspected poisoning patients all ate bread at Dam Sen Cultural Park (District 11) while out playing.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bo-y-te-de-nghi-truy-xuat-nguon-thuc-pham-nghi-gay-ngo-doc-khien-37-nguoi-nhap-vien-post868933.html