On the afternoon of May 7, the Food Safety Department informed that it had sent a document to the Quang Tri Department of Health regarding the investigation and handling of a suspected food poisoning case in this province.
The Food Safety Department said it received information on May 5, 2026 that in some mountainous communes including Huong Phung, Lia, Tan Lap, Khe Sanh, Quang Tri province, there were 9 people suspected of food poisoning after eating cicadas with symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, red rashes,... and were taken to Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital for treatment.
On the same day, the Food Safety Department also sent an official letter to the Son La Provincial Department of Health regarding the investigation and handling of a suspected food poisoning case in the province.
Accordingly, on May 6, 2026, in Na Hien village, Phieng Pan commune, Son La province, 6 cases of suspected food poisoning due to eating forest mushrooms were recorded, with some deaths, and the remaining cases are being actively treated at the hospital.
Faced with the above situation, the Food Safety Department requested the Departments of Health of provinces to urgently implement contents such as directing medical examination and treatment facilities with patients undergoing treatment to focus resources on actively treating food poisoning patients without affecting health and life.
Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment to urgently verify and investigate the incident; identify the main cause of poisoning; monitor and supervise the situation to promptly detect and handle similar cases that may arise.
At the same time, promote propaganda and education on knowledge and skills to ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning for the community in the process of processing and consuming strange animal and plant species that are at risk of poisoning such as forest mushrooms, trees, tubers, forest fruits, insects...
For ethnic minorities in mountainous communes, communication content must be built and conveyed in ethnic languages in forms suitable to the actual situation in the locality.
At the same time, strictly implement the directions in Directive No. 38/CT-TTg dated October 11, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening food poisoning prevention; Official Dispatch No. 848/BYT-ATTP dated February 9, 2026 of the Ministry of Health on ensuring food safety in street food business.
The Food Safety Department also requested the Departments of Health of provinces to update the daily food poisoning situation and report the results of the food poisoning investigation to the Food Safety Department as prescribed.
