VĨNH LONG — Some 84 kids from Họa Mi Pre-school in southern Vĩnh Long Province were taken to Tam Bình District General Hospital yesterday afternoon after showing symptoms of food poisoning.

Vice director of the hospital Huỳnh Châu Tuấn said until this morning, the hospital had received 84 kids from the school, suffering from similar symptoms, including vomiting, slight fever and diarrhoea.

Following treatment, most of the kids were recovering and getting discharged from the hospital, he said.

The province’s Food Safety Division arrived at the school yesterday to collect food samples for testing.

There are some 370 children attending Họa Mi Pre-school, of which, 274 have lunch at school.

Food poisoning, particularly collective food poisoning at schools/workplace canteens, is among the issues that have recently led to public concern.

According to statistics from the health ministry, last year, more than 170 food poisoning cases were reported nationwide, involving close to 5,000 people, of which 23 died.

Government agencies conducted 36 million inspection trips to food producers and suppliers. Some 20 per cent of the examined units were found to be violating food regulations. — VNS