Of the 7 samples tested, 5 were positive for Salmonella bacteria, including pate, grilled meat, sausage, floss and radishes. The two negative samples were pork trotters and tomato sauce. “The source of infection may come from pate and grilled meat, then cross-contaminate the remaining foods,” said the leader of the Nghe An Department of Health.
Poisoning patient treated at Dien Chau General Hospital on April 21. Image: Hung Le
After the results are available, the authorities will impose administrative sanctions on violating business owners.
Salmonella is a common cause of digestive infections, usually starting after 16-48 hours with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and fatigue. Most cases recover on their own after 4-7 days, but in young children, the elderly or immunocompromised, the disease can cause serious complications such as sepsis and meningitis, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Bacteria often exist in the digestive tract of animals, transmitted to humans through contaminated food such as eggs, undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, raw vegetables or through cross-contamination during processing. In particular, eggs and egg products are an important source of infection, because bacteria can penetrate inside the egg right from the hen’s ovary before the eggshell forms.
The health sector recommends that people choose foods with clear origins, eat cooked foods and drink boiled foods, and do not use raw or unhygienically processed foods. During processing, it is necessary to wash hands, separate raw and cooked foods, utensils must be thoroughly cleaned, food should be used immediately after cooking or stored and reheated properly.
When symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting after eating appear, people need to rest, rehydrate with oresol solution according to instructions, and do not arbitrarily take medication, especially antibiotics or anti-diarrhea drugs without a prescription. In case of severe signs such as high fever, frequent diarrhea, bloody stools, dehydration or fatigue, you need to go to a medical facility for timely treatment.