3 hospitalized after puffer fish poisoning in southern Vietnam

Can Tho Central General Hospital confirmed that its emergency department admitted three patients from Phung Hiep Commune with symptoms of numbness and paralysis after eating puffer fish.

All three were stabilized after receiving intensive care and are now under observation.

On Wednesday evening, two 64-year-old men, identified as T.V.T. and N.V.G., were transferred from Nga Bay General Hospital after experiencing numbness in their lips and limbs about an hour after eating the fish.

Family members said the fish were caught in a garden pond, washed but not cleaned internally, and cooked in sour soup.

Four people ate the meal, each consuming three to six fish.

About one hour after eating, the two men developed numbness around the lips and fingertips, which worsened rapidly, prompting emergency hospitalization.

A third patient, identified as D.H.P., 37, was admitted early on Friday morning with similar symptoms after eating puffer fish about five hours earlier.

Doctors said all three survived thanks to timely resuscitation and detoxification measures.

The patients had previously eaten the same type of fish without incident, highlighting a common but risky misconception among local residents.

Experts warned that puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.

The toxin is concentrated in the ovaries and liver during spawning season, making consumption especially dangerous.

There is no specific antidote, adding that treatment relies on rapid supportive care, including respiratory and circulatory support.

Duong Thien Phuoc, head of the intensive care and anti-poison unit at Can Tho Central General Hospital, said symptoms can appear quickly depending on the amount consumed.

Patients may develop tingling around the mouth, muscle paralysis, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and coma.

Without immediate intervention, most fatalities occur due to respiratory muscle paralysis.

Residents must avoid eating puffer fish or similar-looking species altogether, regardless of preparation method.