On May 2, fifteen students from four elementary schools in Thu Duc City were rushed to Le Van Thinh Hospital for emergency treatment after suspected food poisoning. Most of the students had eaten sushi from street vendors outside of their schools. Upon entering the hospital, they 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 majority of cases came from Thanh My Loi primary school, where eight students were affected. Binh Trung Dong primary school had three cases, while Nguyen Van Troi and Nguyen The Vinh primary schools had one case each. Two children’s schools were unknown. Ten of the patients had eaten sushi, and one had consumed bread from street vendors outside of their schools. Authorities conducted investigations at the schools where the suspected food poisoning occurred to determine the cause.
In response to recent incidents of collective food poisoning among students in various locations, Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, warned against the risks associated with street food vendors, collective kitchens, and school food providers. 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.
