Ho Chi Minh City confirms salmonella caused mass ‘banh mi’ poisoning; cases rise to 304

Of the total, 244 patients have been discharged and 60 remain in hospitals, all in stable condition, the department said.

One serious case at Gia Dinh People’s Hospital has been taken off a ventilator and is recovering.

Tests on blood and stool samples found salmonella enteritidis and salmonella spp., confirming the bacteria as the source of the outbreak, it said.

A separate positive test for Staphylococcus coagulase-negative was ruled a laboratory contamination, as the bacteria do not produce toxins that cause food poisoning.

Health authorities are working with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit to sequence the salmonella strains and trace the contamination.

The city’s Department of Food Safety earlier linked the outbreak to two Co Bich ‘banh mi’ stalls in former Go Vap District that used ingredients from multiple suppliers, some without invoices.

One stall was operating without a business license.

Salmonella, commonly found in poultry and eggs, can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain, and may lead to severe complications in children or the elderly, experts said.