Nghe An denies death information due to watermelon poisoning

(Baonghean.vn) - On May 16, Nghe An Department of Health confirmed that the information that some people in Dien Hung commune, Dien Chau district died and were hospitalized due to poisoning after eating watermelon is completely false.

Recently, some newspapers and social networks reported that in Dien Hung commune, Dien Chau district, 4 people died due to poisoning after eating watermelon. Accordingly, the deceased was Mr. Tran Trinh (born in 1978, residing in Hamlet 6, Dien Hung commune, Dien Chau district). 3 people were poisoned by eating watermelon and had to be hospitalized: Mr. Tran Tuan (Hamlet 6, Dien Hung commune); 2 children: Nguyen Thi Nhung and Duc Huy (son of Mr. Tran Huynh).

Immediately after receiving the information, on May 13, 2016, Nghe An Department of Health requested the Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Department to coordinate with Dien Chau District Medical Center to investigate and clarify the cause of the incident.

The cause of Mr. Tran Trinh's death was determined by the Department of Health to be no signs of food poisoning.

Investigation results show that at around 7:30 p.m. on May 10, 2016, Mr. Tran Trinh and 8 other people were present at Mr. Nguyen Huynh's house (Hamlet 6, Dien Hung Commune, Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province). Here, 6/9 guests and Nguyen Thi Nhung (Mr. Nguyen Huynh's daughter) ate half a watermelon (half had been cut and eaten by Nhung at noon).

After eating, around 11pm the same day, Nhung felt a slight chest tightness and headache, but did not vomit or have diarrhea. At the commune health station, doctor Nguyen Thi Binh examined her and said that she had been feeling tired and had a slight headache for the past two days. She was diagnosed with a cold and fever and was given medicine to take home. The next morning, she went to school as usual.

Mr. Tran Tuan ate the most but showed no symptoms. Mr. Hung showed signs of nausea and mild stomachache, and by the morning of May 11, the symptoms had disappeared. Duc Huy showed signs of an allergic reaction with hives, but he did not eat watermelon.

The deceased victim, Mr. Tran Trinh, arrived last. By then, everyone had almost finished eating the melon. He sat at the table and then lay down on the hammock, but it is not known whether he ate the melon or not. If he did, there was very little left.

At around 8:00 a.m. on May 11, 2016, Mr. Trinh showed signs of sweating, cold forehead, dizziness, blurred vision, and loss of vision. At 8:30 a.m., Mr. Trinh was taken to Dien Hung Commune Health Station, Dien Chau District. At the commune health station, Mr. Trinh's symptoms included pale skin; unmeasurable pulse and blood pressure; irregular heartbeat; rapid, shallow breathing; and a state of deep pre-coma. The preliminary diagnosis was circulatory collapse and coma of unknown cause. Dien Hung Commune Health Station gave the patient oxygen, assisted breathing, and fluid replacement.

Nghe An Department of Health's official dispatch confirmed that there were no deaths due to poisoning after eating watermelon.

The patient's prognosis was poor, so the medical station transferred the patient to Phu Dien General Hospital at 9:00 a.m. on May 11, 2016. At Phu Dien General Hospital, Mr. Tran Trinh received intensive resuscitation and was transferred to a higher level hospital, but died on the way.

Thus, the above mentioned death case showed no signs of food poisoning (no symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, etc.). The other 3 cases reported in newspapers and on social networks also did not have typical symptoms of food poisoning.

PV