On July 8, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) sent an official letter to the Dak Lak Provincial Department of Health regarding the investigation and handling of a suspected food poisoning case that occurred in Tan An ward.
According to information received by the Food Safety Department, in Tan An ward, nearly 40 students were recorded to be hospitalized for emergency treatment with symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and many other abnormal symptoms. They have been taken to medical facilities for examination and treatment.
Before the above incident, the Food Safety Department requested the Dak Lak Provincial Department of Health to direct functional units to focus all resources on emergency care and treatment for patients, ensuring that they do not affect the health and lives of patients.
At the same time, the local health sector needs to urgently organize investigations and trace the origin of food suspected of causing poisoning; clearly identify the source of raw materials and related food; take food and specimens for testing, and soon determine the cause of the incident. In case violations of food safety regulations are detected, they must be strictly handled according to regulations.
The Food Safety Department also requested to strengthen food safety measures at educational institutions, especially collective kitchens in schools. In which, it is necessary to enhance the responsibility of principals in food safety management and strictly implement the contents of Official Dispatch No. 2236/BYT-ATTP of the Ministry of Health on strengthening inspection and ensuring food safety at collective kitchens and school kitchens.
In addition, the Department of Health of Dak Lak province is required to promote propaganda and guide knowledge on ensuring food safety in production, business and consumption, focusing on collective kitchens and street food business establishments. This activity is implemented according to Plan No. 598/KH-BCĐTƯATTP of the Central Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on Food Safety with the theme: "Ensuring food safety, preventing food poisoning in food services and street food".
In addition, the Food Safety Department requested the Dak Lak Provincial Department of Health to continue to monitor and update the developments of the incident, and make quick reports according to regulations; proactively provide information, soon publicize the results of the investigation into the cause of the poisoning and report to the Food Safety Department for timely direction.
Previously, at noon on July 3, nearly 40 students from grades 1 to 12 of Hoang Viet Primary, Secondary and High School simultaneously developed symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, suspected of being related to food poisoning. Immediately after that, the children were taken to many medical facilities in Tan An ward for emergency and treatment.
Among these, 18 students were transferred to Buon Ma Thuot University Medical Center Hospital. To date, some students have been discharged after their health stabilized, while the remaining cases are still being monitored and treated at the Department of Pediatrics.
