Dozens of Textile Workers Hospitalized in Hue Suspected of Food Poisoning

Forty-one workers at Scavi Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company in Hue City, central Vietnam, were admitted to Hue Central Hospital on the afternoon of September 11 with symptoms suspected to be food poisoning after a meal. Thirty patients are being treated in the Emergency Department and 10 in the Tropical Diseases Department. One case, in critical condition, required intensive care for dialysis, respiratory, and circulatory support. Around 10 AM on the same day, numerous workers at the Scavi Hue factory in the Phong Dien Industrial Zone began experiencing unusual health issues. The company immediately transferred all employees exhibiting symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea to the nearest medical facility. Local authorities are collaborating with specialized units to investigate the cause of this medical incident. The company's logistics department has submitted all food samples for microbiological and toxin testing. The company stated that its internal catering service always preserves daily food samples for 72 hours to facilitate inspections in case of incidents. Recently, the country has seen multiple large-scale food poisoning outbreaks in collective kitchens at schools and industrial zones, leading to hundreds of simultaneous emergency hospitalizations. The Ministry of Health attributes the primary causes to lax control over raw material sourcing, inadequate food preservation temperatures in hot weather, and cross-contamination during food preparation. Test results from recent incidents frequently detect dangerous bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. In response, the Food Safety Authority has issued an urgent directive to localities to tighten licensing procedures and increase unannounced inspections of industrial catering providers and large-scale food service establishments. The agency also requires all units to strictly adhere to the three-step food inspection process and preserve food samples for at least 24 hours to ensure timely traceability in the event of a medical incident. Source: VnExpress