According to Vietnam officials, six cases of botulism have been reported in May in Ho Chi Minh City and are being treated at Cho Ray Hospital.

Botulinum poisoning is an uncommon but serious illness caused by toxins produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Common symptoms include double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing and speaking, dry mouth, muscle weakness, and respiratory difficulties.

Four people got sick in the middle of May after consuming pork sausages from a street vendor. Three kids, ages 14, 13, and 10, were identified as having botulism poisoning and received antitoxin treatment. Three additional botulinum cases from two families were found in Thu Duc, according to Cho Ray Hospital. 18 and 26-year-old male patients each had consumed food purchased from a street vendor. Additionally, a 45-year-old reportedly consumed fish sauce that had been kept in storage for a long period. The 45-year-old guy, who had been admitted to a different hospital, had died, according to local media.

After treating the first three cases, the hospital ran out of antitoxin, but World Health Organization (WHO) was involved in locating a source of antitoxin to treat it. The Ministry of Health declared that it will look into ways to guarantee a supply of rare medications and storage in stockpiling facilities in order to be more proactive in such situations in the future.