Seven die after suspected food poisoning in Lai Chau

The committee also
reported 12 others were hospitalised, four of them treated at Lai Chau province’s
General Hospital, and the rest at Phong Tho district’s hospital.   

The initial
investigation showed that on February 10, a 60-year-old man from an ethnic
minority, died suddenly after consuming rice and home-made alcohol at a family
party in Ma Ly Chai commune, Phong Tho district. He was complaining of a
headache and nausea.  

Many villagers attended
the three-day funeral. As of February 13 evening, a number of attendees
complained of similar symptoms. Seven people have died.

According to witnesses,
victims drank and ate Chinese-made candy bought at the local
Si Lo Lau market.       

Forensic examinations
in Lai Chau province have revealed the cause of the deaths to have been food
poisoning.

“All victims show the
same symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and mydriasis,” a forensic investigator
said.

The Ministry of
Health’s Food Safety Department Director Nguyen Thanh Phong said a health expert
team from Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital’s Poison Control Centre was moving to
Lai Chau province for further investigation.

Doctor Do Van Giang, Director
of Lai Chau province’s General Hospital said all patients who had not died were
recovering gradually, but more people with similar signs of from
the commune were being transferred to the hospital for observation.

The hospital was
testing samples from dead victims to determine the specific cause of the
incident.-VNA