The information was confirmed by a representative of Children's Hospital 2 on the evening of May 25, adding that the 14-year-old patient was awake, breathing, eating, and walking on his own. The remaining two cases are on ventilators and their muscle strength has improved.

On May 13, three brothers aged 10-14, along with their aunt, showed unusual symptoms after eating pork roll bought from an unknown seller. A day later, the three children were admitted to Children's Hospital 2 in a state of exhaustion, drooping eyelids, weak legs, respiratory failure, had to be intubated and put on a ventilator, and had muscle strength of about 4/5. Doctors at Cho Ray and Children's Hospital 2 determined that the three children had botulinum poisoning. The aunt had mild poisoning and was not hospitalized.

At that time, Vietnam had only two vials of botulinum antitoxin left, which were being kept by the Quang Nam Northern Mountainous Region General Hospital after treating patients who ate pickled fish in March. Doctors quickly coordinated the antitoxin to Ho Chi Minh City. In the early morning of May 16, the medicine was transferred to Nhi Dong 2, where it was injected into three children.

Three other cases of botulinum poisoning were later confirmed, but only received supportive treatment because the country ran out of antidotes.

Last night, 6 vials of BAT were sent from the warehouse in Switzerland by the World Health Organization (WHO) and arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. However, one patient unfortunately died before the antidote could be administered. The remaining two cases were not prescribed the drug because it was past the golden time and they are still completely paralyzed.

Botulinum is a very strong neurotoxin, produced by anaerobic bacteria - bacteria that prefer closed environments such as canned food, or food environments that do not meet the standards to inhibit bacterial growth.

Symptoms of poisoning include abdominal pain, muscle pain, fatigue, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, and general muscle weakness. Finally, the patient has difficulty breathing or cannot breathe due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. These signs appear slowly or quickly depending on the amount of botulinum ingested.

Experts recommend that people should eat cooked food and drink boiled water, choose food with clear origin, quality and safety. Be careful with sealed food that has changed taste or color, canned food that is swollen or leaking.

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