By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Viet Nam Food Administration is reporting a botulism outbreak linked to Pate Minh Chay (computer translated).
On August 19, 2020, the Department of Food Safety – Ministry of Health received a call from the Poison Control Center – Bach Mai Hospital saying that a couple of patients were transferred to the Center on August 18, 2020 from the National Geriatrics Hospital and initially diagnosed by the Poison Control Center– “Monitoring suspected food poisoning caused by Botulinum toxin”. Based on the Poison Control Center’s research, both of the patients consumed Pate Minh Chay products of Alternative Living Two Member Co., Ltd. during the end of July 2020.
The next day, inspection team of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department inspected the production facility of Alternative Living Two-Member Co., Ltd. in Thi Dong Anh town, Hanoi noting sanitary condition violations prompting a shutdown of the facility.
Also during this time, the National Institute of Food Safety and Safety Testing received patient samples (patient’s feces) and unfinished pate samples from patients being treated at the Poison Control Center – Bach Mai Hospital.
On August 25, 2020, the National Institute for Food Safety and Safety Testing announced the initial results of patient samples and pate boxes which were positive for Clostridium botulinum.
On August 28, 2020, the Department of Food Safety received the test results from the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Public Health detected Clostridium Botulinum bacteria in Pate Minh Chay products.
A warning was announced in the media.
According to Food Safety News, at least nine cases of foodborne botulism have been reported link to the pate. All required hospitalization.
Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
