Hundreds of Vietnam workers hospitalized with food poisoning

Health News

Source of Article: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1483012.php/Hundreds_of_Vietnam_workers_hospitalized_with_food_poisoning_

Jun 12, 2009, 6:01 GMT

Hanoi - Spoiled tuna is suspected to have caused an outbreak of food poisoning that put hundreds of workers in Ho Chi Minh City in hospital, officials of the affected companies said Friday.

'Doctors at Ho Chi Minh City Health Department have collected food samples for testing and initial results show tuna may be the cause,' said Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, personnel chief at the Minh Nghe Shoe Company.

The first cases were reported at the company's plant Thursday afternoon after 170 workers complained of headaches, nausea, vomiting and rashes. They were sent to hospital for treatment.

At the same time, 175 workers at Thuong Thang Shoes Company complained of similar symptoms and were also sent to receive treatment.

Thuong Thang personnel head Huynh Van Nhien said only 175 out of a total of 1,400 workers at his company suffered the symptoms.

Ho Chi Minh City's Health Department is investigating the outbreak.

In the first quarter of 2009, Vietnam reported 186 cases of food poisoning, including two fatalities, according to the Food Safety and Hygiene Department.

It is a dramatic improvement from last year, which saw nearly 8,000 cases of food poisoning with 61 deaths.

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