8 children hospitalized after Mid-Autumn Festival party: Vinh Long Department of Health states the cause

Regarding the case of 8 children at a kindergarten in Vinh Long being hospitalized after a Mid-Autumn Festival party at school, the Department of Health of this province has information on the cause.

On the evening of October 6, according to the Vinh Long Department of Health , regarding the case of 8 children (initial information was 7 children) of preschool age being hospitalized with symptoms of stomachache and vomiting after the Mid-Autumn Festival party at Kindergarten 3 (Phuoc Hau Ward, Vinh Long), the initial cause was determined to be digestive disorders.

Kindergarten 3 where the incident occurred

Photo: Nam Long

On October 3, Kindergarten 3 organized a Mid-Autumn Festival party for 268 children. Breakfast included mixed soup; light meals included rice cakes and snacks (brought by parents). The buffet included many fried and stir-fried dishes, fruits, yogurt, orange juice, and lemon tea; snacks included bananas; and afternoon snacks included rice with pork skin and seaweed soup.

At around 2:30 p.m., 8 children (aged 2 to 5) were hospitalized for observation with symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting. Currently, all children are in stable health, with no serious cases. By 9 a.m. on October 6, 6 children had been discharged from the hospital, while 2 children are still being monitored at Vinh Long General Hospital.

After the incident, the Department of Health directed the Food Safety Department to urgently coordinate with the Vinh Long Regional Medical Center, the People's Committee and the Phuoc Hau Ward Health Station to investigate, verify, monitor and support schools and families in caring for and monitoring children's health.

According to the initial investigation results, the collective kitchen of Kindergarten 3 is organized by the school itself, has full legal documents, health certificates, food safety training, 3-step food inspection book and keeps food samples according to regulations.

6 children have been discharged from hospital

Photo: Nam Long

Through actual inspection, the kitchen is arranged according to the principle of preventing cross-contamination, but there are still some shortcomings in the facilities such as the drainage system is not closed, the preparation area is low, and the protective changing room contains unrelated items.

Vinh Long Department of Health determined that clinical symptoms showed that this was not a case of mass food poisoning but a digestive disorder related to children consuming many dishes during the day (grilled, fried, stir-fried, drinks...) in the same short period of time.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/8-tre-nhap-vien-sau-tiec-trung-thu-so-y-te-vinh-long-neu-nguyen-nhan-185251006212751576.htm