On December 11, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province issued an urgent document requesting the Department of Health to direct Ba Ria Hospital to actively treat and support two hospitalized patients suspected of food poisoning.
Before that, on the evening of December 9, Mr. N.Q.L. and Mr. D.N.C. (both born in 1978, residing in Long Dien district) went to have dinner at the K snail restaurant. The two ordered many dishes including cockles, blood cockles, abalone, grilled sea urchin, beef rolls with enoki mushrooms, and Thai shrimp sauce.
At around 11pm the same day, Mr. L had symptoms such as tooth and mouth numbness, dizziness and was taken to Ba Ria Hospital for emergency treatment. At this time, the patient had a severe seizure and had to be admitted to the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department. Up to now, Mr. L. has overcome the critical stage and is receiving activated charcoal. Mr. C only had stomach pain and vomiting.
Both cases were diagnosed with poisoning due to eating sea cucumbers.
The People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province requested relevant agencies and units to urgently inspect food hygiene and safety at the K snail restaurant, verify information, clarify and strictly handle it according to regulations.
The sea urchin (scientific name: Carcinoscorpius rotunicauda) looks very similar to the horse crab (always in pairs), but is much smaller and only travels alone. This species carries the poison tetrodotoxin, which affects the central nervous system, causing paralysis, stopping circulation and respiration, leading to rapid death. This poison is not destroyed by heat, so eating cooked or grilled food is dangerous.
