On the afternoon of September 3, after a boarding lunch at An My Primary School (Phu Duc Commune, Hung Yen Province), a teacher and 41 students were treated at Phu Duc General Hospital. Most of them had similar symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, and loose stools. The female teacher suffered the most, hospitalized at around 5pm, and had to be relieved of her pain at 9pm.
The hospital has mobilized more teams of doctors, nurses, patients for treatment of digestive disorders and food poisoning monitoring for students and teachers. The provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Department also sent staff to hospitals and schools to verify and collect information. Phu Duc commune leaders visited and encouraged the students and teachers at the hospital.
On September 6, according to the leader of the Women's General Hospital, the health of 41 students and teachers has stabilized and improved well. Of these, 5 students were discharged from the hospital on September 5. If nothing changes, it is expected that on September 8, 37 students and the teacher will be discharged from the hospital.
On the same day, the Department of Education and Training of Hung Yen province issued a document to the People's Committees of communes, wards and general education institutions with primary schools, requesting that boarding only be organized when fully qualified, processed, procedures and parents' consent are ensured.
Principals of schools are responsible to competent authorities, the Department of Education and Training and the law if violations occur, especially related to food safety and hygiene. The Department also requires strict implementation of regulations on facilities, equipment, procedures, selection of food suppliers, kitchen staff conditions and ensuring proper nutrition during meals.
The Department's working group visited Phu Duc General Hospital to visit students and teachers, and worked with the leaders of Phu Duc commune and the Board of Directors of An My Primary School. The school has provided documents and stored food samples for testing to the Food Safety Department since September 3, and currently has no results, and has temporarily suspended the boarding meals.
The Department of Education and Training requested the People's Committee of Phu Duc commune to review and clarify the responsibilities of related organizations and individuals. In the coming time, the Department will coordinate with the Department of Health and localities to strengthen inspections of boarding work in primary schools to ensure absolute safety and reasonable nutrition for students.
