On 7/5, a representative from the Son La Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-department confirmed the incident occurred in Na Hien village, Phieng Pan commune. Currently, four of the five patients are receiving specialized treatment at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, transferred from local facilities. Authorities have collected food and patient samples for testing to determine the cause.
Earlier, at noon on 2/5, a family in Na Hien village hosted a meal attended by 24 people. The menu included steamed dog meat, boiled duck, dried bamboo shoot soup, can wine, and white rice wine. After the main meal, six individuals consumed additional wild mushroom soup, gathered from the forest.
By 20h on the same day, this group began experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, repeated vomiting, and diarrhea. The homeowner's daughter showed the most severe symptoms, with continuous vomiting and watery diarrhea, and passed away at home on the morning of 4/5. The 18 individuals who did not eat the mushroom soup remained in normal health.
 |
The type of mushroom suspected of causing poisoning, collected by authorities. Photo: Son La Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-department |
Health officials believe the culprit is likely the death cap mushroom (Amanita virosa), a species containing potent amatoxin. These toxins do not degrade during cooking. They directly damage the liver, kidneys, heart, and nervous system, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, multiple organ failure, and coma. A small amount of amatoxin is fatal.
This poisonous mushroom grows abundantly in mountainous forest canopies from May to October. It features a white cap, thick white gills not attached to the stem, a swollen base encased in a volva, and a ring on the stem. Its appearance is easily confused with straw mushrooms, button mushrooms, or young "egg-shaped" mushrooms.
The health sector advises people to avoid picking, buying, or eating unfamiliar mushrooms. Upon experiencing symptoms of poisoning, patients should immediately seek the nearest medical facility, bringing a sample of the mushroom to help doctors establish a timely intervention plan.
Thuy An
