Lai Chau (VNA) - At least seven peopledied following a suspected case of food poisoning in the northern mountainousprovince of Lai Chau on February 13, the provincial People’s Committeereported.

The committee alsoreported 12 others were hospitalised, four of them treated at Lai Chau province’sGeneral Hospital, and the rest at Phong Tho district’s hospital.   

The initialinvestigation showed that on February 10, a 60-year-old man from an ethnicminority, died suddenly after consuming rice and home-made alcohol at a familyparty in Ma Ly Chai commune, Phong Tho district. He was complaining of aheadache and nausea.  

Many villagers attendedthe three-day funeral. As of February 13 evening, a number of attendeescomplained of similar symptoms. Seven people have died.

According to witnesses,victims drank home-made alcohol and ate Chinese-made candy bought at the localSi Lo Lau market.       

Forensic examinationsin Lai Chau province have revealed the cause of the deaths to have been foodpoisoning.

“All victims show thesame symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and mydriasis,” a forensic investigatorsaid.

The Ministry ofHealth’s Food Safety Department Director Nguyen Thanh Phong said a health expertteam from Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital’s Poison Control Centre was moving toLai Chau province for further investigation.

Doctor Do Van Giang, Directorof Lai Chau province’s General Hospital said all patients who had not died wererecovering gradually, but more people with similar signs of food poisoning fromthe commune were being transferred to the hospital for observation.

The hospital wastesting samples from dead victims to determine the specific cause of theincident.-VNA