On the morning of May 2, fifteen students from four elementary schools in Thu Duc City were rushed to Le Van Thinh Hospital for emergency treatment due to suspected food poisoning. The students had eaten sushi from street vendors outside their schools before falling ill. Most of the cases came from Thanh My Loi primary school, with eight students affected, while Binh Trung Dong primary school had three cases. Nguyen Van Troi and Nguyen The Vinh primary schools had one case each. Two children’s schools were unknown.
Upon entering the hospital, the students exhibited symptoms of vomiting and dizziness. Doctors diagnosed the students with gastrointestinal infections and suspected food poisoning. They were treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, leading to a stabilization of their condition and a decrease in vomiting.
The Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, Pham Khanh Phong Lan, warned of the risks associated with street food vendors, collective kitchens, and school food providers in response to recent incidents of collective food poisoning among students in various locations. The prolonged hot weather creates favorable conditions for bacteria growth and food spoilage, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
To ensure food safety and protect the public from such incidents, Ho Chi Minh City is intensifying its inspections and surprise checks of food businesses and restaurants. It is crucial for individuals to be cautious when consuming street food and to choose reputable sources for their meals to avoid falling victim to such incidents again in the future.
