There were over 1,000 more cases of food poisoning compared to the same period last year.

Food products contaminated with microorganisms are mainly processed pork products and dishes containing chicken.

The Ministry of Health stated that it had advised the Prime Minister to issue Official Dispatch 44/CĐ-TTg dated May 3, 2024, on preventing and handling food poisoning incidents, directing ministries, sectors, and localities to fully implement measures to prevent, stop, and remedy food safety incidents.

In addition, the Ministry has repeatedly sent documents to the Departments of Health in provinces and cities nationwide, the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department; the Da Nang City Food Safety Management Board, and Bac Ninh province regarding the prevention and handling of food poisoning, and the strict handling of violations... including tracing the origin, recalling, and disposing of unsafe food.

To prevent food poisoning, the Ministry of Health notes that, regarding the dissemination of knowledge on ensuring food safety in food production, business, and consumption, attention should be paid to guiding safe processing and preservation methods for traditional foods or foods based on local customs, in order to raise awareness and change behaviors and habits that do not ensure food hygiene and safety in the selection, processing, preservation, and use of food.

Only use food products and ingredients with clear origin, source, and labeling. Absolutely do not use canned products that have expired, are swollen, dented, deformed, rusty, no longer intact, or have an unusual change in smell, taste, or color.

Do not reseal food in non-freezing conditions, as this creates an environment for anaerobic bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum, to grow.

At the same time, we must mobilize the participation of businesses, communities, organizations, and social groups to work together and contribute to clean, high-quality, and safe food.

Promote, publicize, commend, honor, and replicate advanced models in the production and business of safe food; at the same time, criticize acts of producing and trading unsafe food that endanger human health.

The Ministry of Health requests that the health departments of provinces and cities; the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department; the Da Nang City Food Safety Management Board, and Bac Ninh province strengthen inter-agency cooperation in inspecting, checking, and monitoring food safety; focusing on establishments processing ready-made meals, collective kitchens in industrial zones and schools, food service businesses, street food vendors, and establishments producing and selling bottled and packaged drinking water.

Pay attention to appropriate monitoring and guidance measures for mobile catering services, celebratory meals, wedding receptions, and large-scale memorial services within the managed area.

Strict measures will be taken to severely punish and suspend the operations of establishments that do not meet food safety standards, and establishments that do not possess a Food Safety Certificate (which is required to be issued).

Simultaneously, publicize violations and the results of handling violations by organizations and individuals producing and trading food through mass media to promptly warn producers, businesses, and consumers.

Hanoi establishes 5 mobile epidemic control teams in flooded areas.

According to information from the Hanoi Department of Health, in recent days, heavy rains across a wide area have caused flooding in some places, particularly in several communes of Chuong My and Quoc Oai districts.

In response to this situation, the Department of Health established two inspection teams to monitor the medical response to floods and storms. The Hanoi CDC organized monitoring in 17 communes and wards in 9 districts and counties, areas at risk before the flood season.

In addition, the Hanoi CDC has also established 5 mobile epidemic control teams to guide health centers and coordinate with authorities at all levels to prepare sufficient quantities of 25% Chloramine B to carry out environmental sanitation wherever the floodwaters recede, ensuring disease prevention and control.

Currently, the People's Committee of Chuong My District and the District Health Center have supplied nearly 200kg of 25% Chloramine B to the flooded communes and towns for water and environmental treatment, and will continue to provide additional supplies to units in need. At the same time, they have assigned staff to monitor the situation 24/7 and deployed four mobile teams to monitor, supervise, and provide support to the flooded communes and towns.

In addition, the Chuong My District Health Center has compiled a list of pregnant women expected to give birth in the flooded communes. Simultaneously, health officials have been assigned to closely monitor the condition of these pregnant women and guide them to relatives' homes in unaffected areas. The district has also prepared a plan to coordinate with the general hospital to transport pregnant women to the hospital should any problems arise.

In Nam Phuong Tien commune, Chuong My district, where three villages are completely isolated, the commune's health station has organized home delivery of medication for residents suffering from chronic illnesses and skin, eye, and diarrhea conditions.

In Quoc Oai district, the District Health Center distributed 10kg of 25% Chloramine B to flooded communes for water and environmental treatment, and instructed local health stations to strengthen medical examination and treatment, providing guidance and timely treatment for patients in flooded areas.

Shorten the time required for birth and death registration.

The Ministry of Health has recently sent a document to the directors of hospitals and medical institutions with inpatient beds under the Ministry of Health; the directors of the Departments of Health in provinces and centrally-administered cities; and the heads of health departments in various sectors regarding the continued data linkage of digitally signed birth certificates and death certificates.

Specifically, Clause 2, Article 21 stipulates the responsibility of the health sector to "build a health sector database, ensuring the issuance, connection, and sharing of electronic birth and death certificates with the interconnected public service software" to implement related administrative procedures in an online environment.

Clause 2 of Article 5 stipulates that "Electronic data with digital signatures of birth certificates, linked from medical examination and treatment facilities with the interconnected public service software," is a component in the dossier for the electronic interconnection of administrative procedures for birth registration, permanent residence registration, and issuance of health insurance cards for children under 6 years old in cases where the child has a birth certificate issued by a medical examination and treatment facility.

Clause 1 of Article 10 and Clause 1 of Article 11 stipulate that "Electronic data with digital signatures of death certificates are automatically shared from medical examination and treatment facilities with the interconnected public service software" as a component in the electronic interconnection of administrative procedures for registering deaths, removing permanent residence registrations, settling funeral expenses, and survivor benefits for cases where the deceased has a death certificate issued by a medical examination and treatment facility.

Article 25 stipulates the responsibilities of medical examination and treatment facilities: The head of each medical examination and treatment facility is responsible for linking digitally signed birth certificates and death certificates to the interconnected public service software no later than 4 working hours after issuing the paper copies of the birth certificate and death certificate;

Ensure the technical infrastructure is in place to facilitate the connection, updating, and sharing of data with the interconnected public service software; and to receive medical examinations and treatments using personal identification numbers, identity cards, citizen identification cards, or health insurance cards, either in paper form or electronically.

According to the Ministry of Health, the implementation of digitally signed data exchange for birth certificates and death certificates issued by medical facilities, as part of Project 06, has been mandated by the Ministry of Health for all medical facilities to implement routinely since March 7, 2023.

To implement Decree 63/2024/ND-CP, the Ministry of Health requests that units direct, supervise, and inspect affiliated medical examination and treatment facilities currently issuing birth certificates and death certificates to perform the following tasks:

Study and implement Article 25 of Decree 63/2024/ND-CP, continue to link digitally signed data of birth certificates and death certificates, and record the link code on birth certificates and death certificates no later than 4 working hours after issuing the paper copies to the health insurance claims portal, as guided by the Ministry of Health in the directives on implementing data linkage of birth certificates and death certificates serving Project 06;

Inspect, supervise, and ensure that all medical facilities, after issuing birth certificates and death certificates, must sign the data and link it to the Health Insurance Claims Portal to share with the interconnected public service software, serving citizens in performing two groups of online public services related to birth and death registration.