Health officials in Quang Tri Province have identified several bacterial strains in food samples collected during an investigation into a suspected food poisoning outbreak linked to a bread shop in Cam Lo Commune.
The provincial Centre for Disease Control said on September 23 that laboratory results had been received from the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute following the incident.
Multiple people in Quang Tri Province were hospitalised after eating banh mi (Photo: Truong Nguyen).
According to the findings, bacteria were detected in 11 of 13 clinical specimens tested. Ten samples tested positive for Salmonella spp., while one sample contained both Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus.
Food testing also revealed contamination in nine samples collected from the bread shop. The products that tested positive for Salmonella spp. included beef sausage, fish cake, vegetables, braised meat, pickled vegetables, cucumber, bread, sandwiches and nuoc xiu, a sauce commonly used in Vietnamese sandwiches.
Authorities also detected Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus bacteria in several food samples.
Nguyen Quang, director of Cam Lo Regional General Hospital, confirmed that all 46 patients admitted with symptoms consistent with food poisoning had recovered and been discharged from hospital.
The outbreak began on September 14 after customers consumed bread products purchased from a business in Cam Chinh Village, Cam Lo Commune. Many subsequently developed symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea and dehydration.
A total of 46 people required hospital treatment and monitoring.
Nguyen Tien Long, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Cam Lo Commune, said the bread business involved in the incident had only recently opened.
Following reports of the outbreak, local authorities worked with specialist agencies to inspect the establishment and investigate the source of contamination.
The People's Committee of Cam Lo Commune has also instructed relevant departments to review food businesses across the area in an effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
