Fifteen students from four elementary schools in Thu Duc City were brought to Le Van Thinh Hospital for emergency treatment due to suspected food poisoning. Most of the students had eaten sushi from street vendors in front of the school gate. They exhibited symptoms of vomiting and dizziness upon entering the hospital on the morning of May 2. The hospital reported the cases to the Department of Health, Department of Food Safety, and other relevant authorities. 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, with eight students 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 in front of the 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, the Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, Pham Khanh Phong Lan, warned of 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. Ho Chi Minh City is intensifying its inspections and surprise checks of food businesses and restaurants to ensure food safety and protect the public from such incidents.