Preliminary investigation reveals that the kids had been served bread roll sandwich with chicken floss that morning at the Tan Thai Son Church in the suburban Tan Phu District to the west of the city.
Around 11 a.m. many of them started vomiting and had high fever, stomachache and diarrhea. The families immediately took them to a local hospital.
Soon dozens more started having similar symptoms.
As of Sunday night at least 55 children and two adults had been hospitalized with food poisoning.
Health officials inspected the sandwich retailer in Tan Phu and its chicken floss supplier in Cu Chi District, one hour away, on Monday morning and found several hygiene violations.
They are still testing food samples for further conclusions but suspected that the chicken floss had been infected with Staphylococcus, a bacteria genus known as a common cause of food poisoning.
Food poisoning breaks out frequently in Vietnam, mostly after meals at school and factory canteens.
In December last year 142 children at An Phu Primary School in HCMC’s District 2 were hospitalized and diagnosed with gastrointestinal infections after eating food served at the school.
The offenders in such cases are rarely taken to court.
Official data shows 1,300 people were affected in 53 cases of food poisoning in the first half of this year, 11 of them fatally.
Từ vựng liên quan
Tin tức liên quan
Strong earthquake hits Japan, no tsunami warning
world | 169716650Damages or injuries were not immediately reported but the quake shook buildings in Tokyo.
Philippines rejects China offer of conditional dialogue on S.China Sea dispute
news | 201976660Philippines Foreign Minister Yasay says no framework in place for China dialogue.
UNESCO geopark Dong Van Plateau allures foreign tourists
places | 313636612In the mountainous province of Ha Giang, the breathtaking landscapes of Dong Van Plateau mesmerize foreign tourists.
Bank deposits grow slowly amid low interest rates
data-speaks | 219626643Bank deposits made by individuals in the first four months were up a mere VND120 trillion ($5.2 billion) year-on-year, the lowest rate of increase in the last six years.
Nghe An: landscape of mountains, rivers and legend
places | 28736654Sun-drenched and often windy Nghe An, a hidden gem in north-central Vietnam, offers tourists scenic landscapes and an exclusive taste for tea.
In Vietnam, Agent Orange victims struggle to survive as Monsanto thrives
travel-life | 313426615Monsanto continues to dodge culpability as its victims suffer in silence.
Pure Land pagoda’s unique bamboo gate
places | 70166013Ruong Lon Pagoda in the southern province of Dong Nai has an entrance created out of bamboo unlike any other pagoda.
Strong security force to keep Saigon flower street safe
news | 86056656Over 1,000 police officers, bodyguards and other security personnel will protect Saigon’s Nguyen Hue Flower Street for a week starting Wednesday night.