Dozens hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City after year-end party

Ba Ria General Hospital, located in Tam Long Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, on Tuesday evening confirmed it had admitted dozens of patients suspected of food poisoning after they attended an end-of-year gathering.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the hospital had admitted a total of 46 patients presenting with symptoms including fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

After receiving treatment, several patients were discharged, while many others remain hospitalized for continued monitoring.

Preliminary findings showed that most of the patients are employees of a bank in Ba Ria Ward.

On January 31, the bank ordered catering from G.M. Restaurant in Xuyen Moc Commune.

The food was transported to its headquarters for the year-end party.

The menu included sweet snails, jellyfish salad with shrimp and squid, free-range chicken steamed with shiitake mushrooms and vegetables, banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes), pickled small leeks, salt-roasted giant river prawns, and grouper hotpot.

On the afternoon of February 1, several attendees unexpectedly began experiencing abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and fever, prompting them to seek emergency medical care.

Ba Ria General Hospital collected patient samples for testing and reported the incident to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and the Department of Food Safety in accordance with regulations.

The restaurant reportedly supplied food to the year-end party with 170 guests.

Leftover food from the bash was still being stored at the restaurant and was collected by authorities for testing.

The restaurant presented a certificate confirming that it meets food safety and hygiene requirements.