HUE - A suspected food-poisoning cluster linked to Scavi Huế had resulted in 210 people being received for treatment by 10 a.m. on Sept. 14.
Of the 210 patients, 187 had been received at Huế Central Hospital facility 2 and 23 at Phong Điền Medical Center, according to the Sept. 14 Health Department update reported by Sức khỏe & Đời sống. Fifty-three had been discharged from the hospital and 18 from the medical center, leaving 139 under treatment, care or monitoring.
Patients had presented with symptoms including fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea and were initially diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and suspected food poisoning. Health authorities were continuing to investigate the cause after collecting samples and examining the collective kitchen at the garment company.
The Ministry of Health’s food-safety agency, Cục An toàn thực phẩm, instructed Huế health authorities on Sept. 12 to urgently investigate the suspected cluster and trace the food supply.
Officials were told to identify suppliers of food or ingredients suspected of causing the illnesses, collect food and patient samples for testing, investigate possible food-safety violations and publish the findings, according to Nhân Dân’s report on the order.
Huế’s Health Department also suspended food-service operations at the collective kitchen at Scavi Huế operated by Huế Thành Co., Ltd. The kitchen remained suspended in the Sept. 14 update, and Scavi was required to provide meals to workers in accordance with food-safety rules while the suspension was in force.
Scavi Huế said it was covering examination, treatment and other necessary costs for affected workers and cooperating with medical facilities and authorities investigating the illnesses.
The company also said it had implemented measures required by the relevant authorities, according to its statement reported by VTC News.
The 10 a.m. Health Department update did not identify a specific food, ingredient or pathogen as the source, and the investigation remained underway.
“Patients who have not been discharged are continuing to receive treatment, care and close monitoring,” a Health Department leader said.