Poisoning incident at BSE Electronics Company Limited: 12 samples taken for testing

(Baonghean.vn) - To determine the cause of the poisoning, the health sector directed the Food Safety and Hygiene Department to conduct a field investigation at the kitchen and collect 12 samples for testing.

» Hot: Suspected poisoning, dozens of workers hospitalized in Nghe An

50 workers of BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. were hospitalized due to poisoning. Photo: Thanh Chung

Urgent testing to find the cause of poisoning

On the morning of April 3, the Nghe An Department of Health quickly reported the poisoning situation at BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. Specifically, 3 hours after lunch on April 1, 2017 at the cafeteria of BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. (provided by Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company), 50 female workers showed signs of poisoning with symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea and had to go to Nghe An 115 Hospital for first aid and treatment.

By 7:00 p.m. the same day, 42 female workers had stabilized and were allowed to go home; 8 female workers had to be hospitalized for treatment, including 3 pregnant female workers... By 7:20 a.m. this morning, the hospitalized patients were stable, their health was progressing well, and they were expected to be discharged in the next 2-4 days.

Report and instructions from Nghe An Department of Health on the poisoning incident at BSE Electronics Company Limited. Photo: Thanh Chung.

After the poisoning incident, the health sector conducted an investigation to find out information about the incident. The initial assessment was that the cause of the poisoning was food. Among the 50 people who were poisoned, some people were in pain without eating anything, possibly due to a psychotic disorder called Hysteria after witnessing other people being poisoned.

To determine the cause of the poisoning, the health sector directed the Food Safety and Hygiene Department to conduct a field investigation at the kitchen and collect 12 samples for testing, including: 07 food samples, 02 milk samples, 01 orange sample, 01 drinking water sample and 01 water sample used to prepare food...

The provincial Center for Preventive Medicine collected 16 air samples at 2 factories where poisoned workers worked for testing, including CO, CO₂, SO₂, NO₂, NH₃, H₂SO₄, Acetone and H₂S.

The provincial Food Safety Department took food samples for testing to find the cause of the poisoning. Photo: Thanh Chung

Currently, Nghe An Department of Health requires the Center for Preventive Medicine to urgently test food, milk, drinking water, and air samples that have been taken by specialized agencies, ensuring the earliest and most accurate results.

There are many unusual signs

Information related to the meal was determined: The female workers' lunch took place at 11:30-12:30 on April 1; including 2,422 meals; the meals included rice, pork, xu xu, carrots, cabbage, tofu, oranges. Due to a shortage of 105 meals, Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company supplemented by buying more bread and milk.

Health Department leaders visit and encourage the health of poisoned workers. Photo: Thanh Chung

Information obtained by reporters shows that the poisoning incident at BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. has many unusual signs. Specifically: Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company is a new contractor that has just signed a contract to provide meals for BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. to replace the old contractor. The lunch on April 1, 2017 was the first meal provided by Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company.

Previously, the old contractor was granted a certificate of food safety and hygiene by the provincial Food Safety Department. After the replacement, the new contractor, Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company, did not have a certificate of food safety and hygiene.

The kitchen operated by Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company at BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. has full facilities and equipment to serve; has contracts with food suppliers; stores food samples; and most of the current kitchen staff of Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company are employees of the old contractor.

Authorities working with BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. and Brothers Vietnam Joint Stock Company encountered obstruction from some strangers. Photo: Thanh Chung

At the working session between the authorities and BSE Vietnam Electronics Company Limited, the company's representative stated that there were conflicts, disputes, and threats between the old and new contractors during the transfer of human and material resources.

It is worth noting that on the afternoon of April 1, when working with BSE Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. and investigating the cause, representatives of the health sector, Southeast Economic Zone; leaders of the People's Committee, Police, Nghi Loc District Health Department and Nghi Xa Commune People's Committee encountered obstruction from some "strange subjects"./.

PV