Over 100 fall sick after eating ‘banh mi’ in Ho Chi Minh City ward

According to the municipal Department of Health, as of 10:00 am on Tuesday, medical facilities had admitted and treated 102 patients showing symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

All had eaten ‘banh mi’ bought from the N.H. shop at 964 Doc Lap Street.

Among the cases, Ba Ria General Hospital received 49 patients, including several referred from private clinics.

Dai Tong Lam General Clinic treated 21 cases, Phu My Medical Center admitted 12, Asia General Clinic handled nine, Van Thanh Sai Gon General Clinic treated 19, and Tam An-Tan Thanh Clinic reported one case.

Health officials confirmed that all patients shared a common exposure, having consumed ‘banh mi’ from the same establishment.

Of the total, 61 patients required hospitalization, including 49 at Ba Ria General Hospital and 12 at Phu My Medical Center.

The remaining patients were treated on an outpatient basis.

Most patients experienced similar symptoms, including severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and mild fever, which are typical signs of gastrointestinal food poisoning.

Doctors said the overall condition of patients is currently stable, and no severe complications or life-threatening cases have been recorded so far.

Medical teams continue to monitor patients closely and provide treatment in line with established professional protocols.

After receiving reports of the incident, the Department of Health notified the municipal Food Safety Department to launch an investigation and verify the cause.

Hospitals were instructed to ensure sufficient capacity for patient admission, conduct triage, administer appropriate treatment, and collect samples for laboratory testing.

Any developments involving severe cases or complications must be reported immediately to enable timely response measures.

On Monday, leaders of Ba Ria General Hospital confirmed that the hospital had already admitted 42 patients suspected of food poisoning.

Patients told doctors they had eaten ‘banh mi’ from the N.H. shop starting last Friday, after which they suffered intense abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, and frequent diarrhea.

While several mild cases have since stabilized and been discharged, more serious cases remain under observation.

The hospital coordinated with relevant agencies to collect samples for testing to identify the cause of the poisoning and reported the incident to the Health Department.

The Vietnam Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Health has also issued a directive urging the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department to swiftly investigate and handle the suspected outbreak.

The authority called on medical facilities to mobilize maximum resources to provide emergency care and active treatment, ensuring patient safety and preventing fatalities.