Officers from HCM City Health Department work at Lê Văn Thịnh Hospital regarding the fatal case and the remaining patients under treatment at the hospital. — Photo courtesy of HCM City Health Department

HCM CITY — An investigation has concluded the cause behind a food poisoning incident that left a 6-year-old dead.

The primary cause of the mass food poisoning incident after the Mid-Autumn Festival event at Palm Heights in Thủ Đức City last Friday is believed to be food contamination, according to experts during an emergency meeting organised by HCM City's Department of Health on Wednesday.

Experts speculated that the likely source of the food poisoning was cream puffs, as all cases of food poisoning reported similar symptoms related to foodborne infection, including fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and high white blood cell counts. Notably, authorities have recorded cases where individuals who did not attend the Mid-Autumn Festival but consumed cream puffs from the same supplier experienced similar symptoms.

The causative agent is currently under examination by the HCM City Institute of Public Health.

As previously reported, on the evening of September 29, the Palm Heights – Palm City apartment complex organised a Mid-Autumn Festival event for the children of residents and staff at the complex.

The children were given gifts and cakes, including 230 cream puffs.

After consuming the cakes, some children experienced symptoms such as stomachaches, vomiting, fever, and diarrhoea. Among them, a 6-year-old girl named N.Q. died.

As of Wednesday morning, 17 children are still receiving treatment at hospitals of Children No 1, 2, Lê Văn Thịnh and Gia Định People's Hospital. The health of these children is stable.— VNS