Blood tests conducted on three children who fell seriously ill after consuming Bang bread revealed that they had been infected with E. coli bacteria. This information was shared by Doctor Le Quang Trung, Director of Dong Nai Department of Health, on the afternoon of May 4th. Doctor Trung mentioned that the results of the patient samples will be available the following day, and the Department of Health will have a report on whether the E. coli bacteria in the blood tests matches the food samples on May 6th.
E. coli bacteria are commonly found in fresh produce, beef, fresh milk, juice, cheese, and raw fruits and vegetables. Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include nausea, vomiting, and watery or bloody diarrhea, depending on the type of E. coli. The onset of the disease usually occurs 3-4 days after consuming contaminated food, and symptoms can last for 5-10 days. While E. coli can infect individuals of all ages, young children and the elderly are more susceptible to serious complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure.
Currently, authorities have identified 530 people suspected of food poisoning after consuming Bang bread, with a rise of 80 cases since May 3rd. Most of the new patients have mild symptoms and are being treated at home. Dong Nai Children’s Hospital is caring for five seriously ill children, three of whom are showing signs of improvement, while two remain on ventilators. One child is stable, while the other suffered a cardiac arrest at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital.
In addition, Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City received a critically ill 6-year-old male patient transferred from Dong Nai Children’s Hospital. Doctors are currently assessing his condition and determining the best course of treatment. Investigations are underway to identify the source of contamination in the ingredients used to make Bang bread.