Determining the cause of suspected food poisoning at Dong Thap University

Updated date: 04/08/2025 11:58:28

DTO - On the morning of April 8, at the medical cafe (many people call it "medical ethics cafe" on the campus of the Department of Health), the Department of Health informed about the suspected food poisoning incident that occurred at Dong Thap University (DTU) and is continuing to coordinate with other sectors to verify and clarify the cause of the incident.

Scene of the information session on the suspected food poisoning incident at Dong Thap University

According to the Department of Health, on the afternoon of April 6, 2025, the Department of Health received information from the Cao Lanh City Medical Center that a student participating in the STEM Festival at the University of Education had symptoms of suspected food poisoning and was hospitalized at Dong Thap General Hospital. The Department of Health directed the Food Safety Department to coordinate with the Cao Lanh City Medical Center to conduct an actual investigation of the above suspected food poisoning cases.

Investigation results recorded up to 5:00 p.m. on April 7, 2025 showed that on April 6, 2025, about 3,500 people including students, teachers, and volunteers participating in the STEM Festival at the University of Economics and Business had lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with the following dishes: white rice, minced pork and jute soup, braised pork with duck eggs, fried lemongrass salted chicken (provided by a facility in Ward 1, Cao Lanh City) and bottled water (Dowasen 330ml/bottle, Lavie 500ml/bottle and Ramsa 500ml/bottle).

In addition, the Organizing Committee also served drinks including: Dutch Lady fresh milk in 180ml/box (expiry date 8/2025) and milk tea brought to the event location by Nguyen Tat Thanh School, processed on-site, and distributed free of charge. The ingredients were used up, product information is unknown; the processed milk tea was boiled, served to students in plastic cups and ice cubes were added. The amount of food used up during the event, the amount served is unknown.

At around 1:30 p.m. the same day (April 6), some students participating in the event began to have symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. By 4 p.m. on April 6, a total of 33 people had symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Of these, 29 people (mostly students from other provinces) were transferred to Dong Thap General Hospital for health monitoring. By 8:30 p.m. the same day, all 29 cases were hospitalized for treatment.

Comrade Doan Tan Buu - Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Health (2nd from left) said that the initial assessment was that this was a case of acute food poisoning.

The Medical Center coordinated with the Cao Lanh City Health Department and related sectors to establish an interdisciplinary food safety inspection team to conduct a surprise inspection of compliance with food safety regulations at the site of the food poisoning incident, and to inspect compliance with food safety regulations at the food supplier located in Ward 1, Cao Lanh City. The inspection team took 4 food samples and sent them to the laboratory to analyze related indicators according to regulations. However, Dutch Lady milk and milk tea could not be sampled because they had been used up. In addition, Dong Thap General Hospital took 14 samples for testing to find the cause of suspected food poisoning.

As of 5:00 p.m. on April 7, 2025, 16/29 of the total number of hospitalized cases suspected of having NDTP have been discharged, 13 cases are still being treated, 4 cases have mild symptoms and are self-monitoring at home, their health has recovered. It is expected that all remaining suspected cases of NDTP being treated at Dong Thap General Hospital will be discharged today (April 8).

According to comrade Doan Tan Buu - Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Health, through information collection, the Health sector initially determined that this was an acute case of NDTP. The Department of Health has directed relevant units to continue to closely monitor the patient's progress for timely treatment, as well as support treatment costs, to avoid students being disadvantaged. At the same time, inter-sectoral coordination will be carried out to verify and clarify after receiving test results to handle the case in accordance with the provisions of law.

Dung Chinh

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/y-te/dang-xac-dinh-nguyen-nhan-vu-nghi-ngo-doc-thuc-pham-tai-truong-dai-hoc-dong-thap-130500.aspx