The Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT) is expected to arrive at Noi Bai Airport on the afternoon of 11/3. A representative from the Da Nang Department of Health is in Hanoi to receive the medication and will then fly to Da Nang that same evening to ensure timely treatment for the poisoned children.
Initially, the shipment was scheduled to fly directly from Switzerland to Da Nang on the morning of 11/3. However, due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the flight had to be rerouted to Hanoi before continuing to Da Nang.
Three children from the same family – Ho Ngoc Thai, 15; Ho Quang Nhat, 7; and Ho Quoc Binh, 11 – residents of Phuoc Nang commune, Da Nang, suffered botulinum poisoning after consuming fermented fish on 8/3. Tests conducted at the Northern Quang Nam General Hospital for Mountainous Region in Da Nang city confirmed the patients tested positive for Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Botulinum poisoning can cause muscle paralysis, leading to respiratory failure and a high risk of death. Early administration of the antitoxin is crucial for effective treatment. However, the Northern Quang Nam General Hospital for Mountainous Region did not have the antitoxin. The medication is not readily available at any domestic facilities, complicating emergency treatment.
On 10/3, the Da Nang Department of Health urgently requested botulinum antitoxin from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam to treat the three children. WHO agreed to provide 5 vials of BAT from its international reserves, transported from Switzerland to Vietnam. This rare medication, costing approximately 8,000 USD per vial (over 200 million VND), is specifically used to treat botulinum toxin poisoning.
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A representative from the Da Nang Department of Health speaks with the patients' family in Phuoc Nang commune on the morning of 11/3. Photo: Phuc Huynh
On the morning of 11/3, a delegation from the Da Nang Department of Health also conducted an on-site inspection in Phuoc Nang commune. They surveyed traditional food processing methods, hygiene conditions, and reviewed epidemiological factors related to the three children's poisoning.
Fermented fish is a traditional dish of the Gie Trieng people, prepared by mixing carp with salt, rice or corn flour, and chili, then sealing it in a jar for about 7 days. The anaerobic environment inside the jar can create ideal conditions for Clostridium botulinum bacteria to grow and produce toxins, leading to severe poisoning.
Doctors have repeatedly advised people to exercise caution with traditionally fermented and sealed dishes if safety cannot be guaranteed. They recommend avoiding unfamiliar foods, wild mushrooms, insects, or any food showing signs of spoilage or mold to prevent poisoning.
Nguyen Dong
