Suspected food poisoning cases at Ho Chi Minh City elementary school rise to 46

The city’s Food Safety Department said it immediately launched an investigation after receiving reports that the school's students showed symptoms of food poisoning and were admitted to four hospitals across the city between Saturday and Monday.

Officials coordinated with local authorities, medical facilities, and the school to review the incident, collect patient data, and inspect food preparation, storage, and transportation conditions.

Investigators traced food sources, collected samples of stored meals and drinking water, and required staff involved in meal preparation and serving to undergo stool tests.

Initial findings showed 46 students sought medical care, with 29 hospitalized and 17 treated as outpatients. All are under close monitoring.

One child admitted to Children’s Hospital 2 was in critical condition with high fever, dehydration, and shock.

After intensive treatment, including mechanical ventilation and vasopressors, the child recovered and was taken off life support within a day.

The Vietnam Food Safety Authority, under the Ministry of Health, late on Tuesday urged city officials to mobilize resources to treat affected students and prevent fatalities.

City authorities were instructed to trace food origins, test samples, and strictly handle any violations of food safety regulations.

Children’s Hospital 2 on Tuesday confirmed that stool samples from one patient tested positive for Salmonella spp., a common cause of foodborne illness.

Doctors warned parents and teachers to watch for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or allergic reactions.

They advised against home remedies or self-medicating with antibiotics and stressed the importance of seeking medical care if children show signs of dehydration, blood in stool, or difficulty breathing.

The municipal Food Safety Department said it will continue investigating and release official findings once results are available.

The incident has raised concerns about food safety in school meal programs, prompting calls for stricter oversight and better awareness among educators and parents.