131 hospitalized for suspected food poisoning after housewarming party in Vietnam’s Gia Lai

On Saturday, Le Quang Hung, director of the Gia Lai Department of Health, stated that doctor Dinh Ha Nam, deputy director of the department, had been assigned to visit Phu Thien Medical Center and Ayun Pa Medical Center to oversee the treatment of the patients involved in the large-scale suspected food poisoning incident.

The party, hosted by Ksor Doi in Ia Hiao Commune, began at 11:00 am with approximately 220 guests attending.

The food was catered by a local vendor, N.T.H., 50, who prepared a variety of dishes including steamed buns, pork sausage in leaves, grilled meat, spring rolls, bitter melon hotpot with beef, honey-roasted chicken, sticky rice, stir-fried pork with lemongrass and chili, shredded beef salad, seafood hotpot, fresh vermicelli, yogurt, beer, soft drinks, and ice.

Around 6:00 pm the same day, several guests began experiencing symptoms of food poisoning.

Additionally, some guests had taken leftover food home to share with family members, who later also showed similar symptoms by midnight.

The patients were taken to Phu Thien Medical Center and Ayun Pa Medical Center for emergency treatment.

The first hospital admissions were recorded at 4:25 pm on August 29, with more patients arriving until 11:50 pm that night.

The Phu Thien Medical Center admitted 58 patients, while the Ayun Pa Medical Center received 73, totaling 131 patients with the same clinical symptoms.

Authorities have requested that the N.T.H. catering business suspend food service operations during the investigation.

Hung reported that the patients are currently in stable condition, with gradual discharges expected in the coming days.

The Department of Health has mobilized resources, coordinated with local authorities, and implemented professional protocols to address the incident.