Mass food poisoning incidents have been occurring repeatedly.

According to initial information, the company had a contract with Hong Ngoc 12 bread production facility to purchase meat sandwiches daily for employees to eat during overtime shifts.

On the afternoon of August 6th, employees from the bakery delivered 33 meat sandwiches to the company, and 30 people ate them during the evening shift. The following morning, Hong Ngu Regional General Hospital admitted 11 patients with clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As of August 12th, the number of suspected food poisoning cases, according to statistics, is over 140 people (including both workers and residents) hospitalized at 6 medical facilities in Dong Thap province.

After being examined and treated by medical staff, the health of the above cases has stabilized. 44 patients have been discharged and 4 patients requested transfer to Dong Thap General Hospital, their health is stable.

The Hong Ngoc 12 bread production facility has been temporarily suspended. Authorities have taken samples of patients and food and sent them to a testing unit to determine the cause.

Regarding food poisoning, information from the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Health indicates that authorities are investigating the cause of the incident where many tourists showed symptoms of food poisoning and had to be hospitalized after consuming food at an accommodation facility.

Accordingly, on August 10th, a group of 750 tourists from Hanoi traveled to Ha Long City for a vacation and stayed at the Muong Thanh Luxury Hotel, having dinner that same day and breakfast on August 11th at the hotel.

Later, many members of the group experienced stomach pain and diarrhea, with 16 people exhibiting severe symptoms and being taken to Bai Chay Hospital (Ha Long City) for emergency treatment.

Immediately after the incident occurred, the Quang Ninh Department of Health directed Bai Chay Hospital to focus its resources and medications on treating the patients, while also inspecting the implementation of food safety regulations at the facility that provided the meal.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Health, after receiving care and treatment, the health of most of the hospitalized tourists has stabilized, with only two still under observation and care.

Local authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident in order to handle it according to regulations.

To strengthen food safety measures and reduce food poisoning incidents, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen suggested that local authorities should pay attention to food safety management in their areas, including increasing and allocating sufficient human resources and funding.

In particular, localities must direct strict control over the origin of agricultural raw materials, focusing on establishments that have been granted food safety certification.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen also requested that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade strengthen control over agricultural products as well as products under their assigned management according to regulations.

Industrial park and export processing zone management boards require businesses, factories, workshops, etc., to resolutely refuse to sign contracts with establishments that do not meet food safety standards or do not possess the required food safety certification.

Furthermore, it is crucial to prevent situations where establishments, despite possessing food safety certificates issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, illegally source and supply ingredients of unknown origin to collective kitchens in companies, industrial parks, and export processing zones.

Strengthening communication efforts, raising awareness, and changing people's habits in choosing safe food and avoiding food of unknown origin and source also need to be promoted.

The trend of increasing cases of measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox.

The Ministry of Health stated that infectious diseases are currently under basic control. However, in the context of the global situation, Vietnam has recorded scattered cases and outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, chickenpox, etc., and these are beginning to show an increasing trend in some localities.

To prevent and control infectious diseases, the Ministry of Health has developed and implemented programs, plans, and guidelines to ensure the supply of vaccines within the Expanded Immunization Program.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen surveillance, sample testing, and early detection of cases and outbreaks in the community and healthcare facilities; proactively assess risks and analyze the situation to promptly implement measures to handle outbreaks and organize vaccination campaigns to combat the epidemic.

For vaccine-preventable diseases (measles, pertussis, diphtheria, etc.), accelerate the implementation of the 2024 vaccination plan, ensure regular vaccination for eligible individuals; organize catch-up and supplementary vaccinations for those who have not been fully vaccinated...

Regarding the diphtheria outbreak and the request for the Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Health to provide an additional 25,000 doses of diphtheria vaccine, the Ministry of Health stated that the health sector has sufficient vaccines and medication to vaccinate high-risk individuals as requested.

With the measles outbreak worsening in Ho Chi Minh City, the Director of the Department of Health has requested that all units immediately implement measures to boost community immunity, such as: catch-up and supplementary vaccinations for children; vaccinating healthcare workers and caregivers at the three Children's Hospitals and the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. In addition, it is crucial to protect children in high-risk groups, as measles infection in this group can easily lead to death.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has instructed its inspectors and special task force to proactively identify individuals who are "anti-vaccine" and to investigate and strictly handle any misleading information disseminated in the community.

Meanwhile, some social media groups are offering services to forge immunization records. Most of these posts share information discouraging children from getting vaccinated. Some accounts even offer updates on immunization schedules for children starting school or studying abroad, claiming vaccinations are unnecessary, and promising payment upon completion.

Vietnam is among the "top 15" countries with the highest rates of adult male smoking.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking is the leading cause of death.

Tobacco smoke contains 69 carcinogens that cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as affecting reproductive health in both men and women. Tobacco use causes 8 million deaths worldwide every year.

In Vietnam, despite numerous efforts and initial achievements in tobacco control, the country remains one of the top 15 countries with the highest rates of adult male smoking in the world and ranks third in the ASEAN region.

Recent data released by the General Statistics Office shows that tobacco consumption in Vietnam is starting to increase again. From 2022 to 2023, total production increased by more than 10%.

According to the Ministry of Health, the fact that taxes and prices on cigarettes in Vietnam are currently very low means that people and children still easily access and buy cigarettes.

From 2008 to 2019, Vietnam implemented three increases in the excise tax on tobacco, but each increase was low, only 5%, and the time intervals between increases were quite long.

Specifically, in 2008, the tax rate increased from 55% to 65%. Eight years later, in 2016, it increased from 65% to 70%, and by 2019, it had risen from 70% to 75%. Although the excise tax rate is 75%, the total tax on the retail price only accounts for 38.8%.

Therefore, Vietnam is among the countries with the lowest tobacco taxes and prices in the world, lower than the average for ASEAN countries. The Vietnamese tobacco market has approximately 40 brands priced under 10,000 VND per pack.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health proposes that, in order to achieve the goal of reducing the tobacco consumption rate and tax rate as recommended by the WHO in the National Strategy on Tobacco Control until 2030, the absolute tax rate must reach 15,000 VND/pack (20 cigarettes/pack) by 2030, in addition to the proportional tax of 75%.

This approach would help achieve a tax rate of 65% of the retail price, close to the WHO recommendation (70-75% of the retail price), and help reduce tobacco use among men to 36% by 2030.