2 people died, 14 people were hospitalized after a meal at a conference center in Long Bien.

Regarding the suspected poisoning incident that occurred at Conference Center A. (address: Hoa Lan Street, Ecological Urban Area in Phuc Loi Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi) with 80 attendees, the Food Safety Department said that up to now, 14 people have been discovered to be being treated at the Poison Control Center - Bach Mai Hospital, Duc Giang Hospital with symptoms of headache, dizziness, and 2 cases have died outside the hospital with unknown causes suspected to be related.

In the face of the above situation, the Food Safety Department requested the Hanoi Department of Health to urgently direct hospitals with patients being treated to focus resources on actively treating poisoned patients so as not to affect their health and lives; organize an investigation to clearly identify the cause of the suspected poisoning according to regulations, trace the origin of the food suspected of causing poisoning, take food samples and specimens for testing to find the cause; coordinate with competent authorities to clarify the cause of death.

The Food Safety Department requested the Hanoi Department of Health to temporarily suspend the operation of the facility suspected of causing the poisoning, investigate the facility's implementation of food safety regulations, strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any) and publicize the results to promptly warn the community.

The City Department of Health shall strengthen propaganda and guidance for collective kitchens, food service establishments, and street food establishments to ensure hygiene and food safety conditions, strictly implement the management of food ingredients, 3-step food inspection, food sample storage, and hygiene in processing stages; propagate and educate people about food safety knowledge and measures to prevent food poisoning, in order to raise awareness, change unsafe behaviors and habits in food selection and use, and not use food of unknown origin, label, or source.

At the same time, the Food Safety Department requires strict implementation of the contents of Official Dispatch No. 2487/BYT-ATTP dated May 11, 2024, Official Dispatch No. 3113/BYT-ATTP dated June 7, 2024 and Official Dispatch No. 6495/BYT-ATTP dated October 22, 2024 of the Ministry of Health on the implementation of Directive No. 38/CT-TTg dated October 11, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening food poisoning prevention; Hanoi City Department of Health reports the results to the Food Safety Department according to regulations.