Summertime can increase the risk of gastroenteritis which is usually caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. When the source of such infection is contaminated food, it is called food poisoning, because bacteria can multiply quickly in the hot weather.

A food poisoning victim receiving treatment at the Hai Chau District General Hospital

Since the start of this month, a total of 47 food poisoning victims have been rushed to the Hai Chau District General Hospital in Da Nang, showing such food poisoning symptoms as nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, and fever.

Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or possibly even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from one to 10 days.

Doctor Vo Quang Huong, the Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the hospital noted, the foodborne illness is caused by eating contaminated food, especially unhealthy and unhygienic street food which is of unknown origin.

The downtown district is now home to a total of over 1,000 nosh food facilities.

In reality, some food providers have proven their willingness to do whatever it takes to turn a profit, regardless of the dangers they bring upon those unlucky enough to purchase their products.

In a positive response to the implementation of the ‘City of 4 Safe Programmes’ campaign, the district authorities are increasing the monitoring and checks over nosh food facilities.

The owners of these establishments must make commitment in writing to strictly comply with the national food safety and hygiene regulations, otherwise they will face heavy administrative punishments for their violations.

At present, effective measures are being taken to ensure food safety and hygiene across the city, especially at the ongoing Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2018 and the Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous programme which will run from 16 to 20 June.

All schools across the urban district are also required to offer nutritiously balanced meals featuring safe food for their pupils.

With regard to ways to present food poisoning, doctors underlined the importance of washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water (warm or cold) and drying them before handling food, after handling raw food.

It's especially important to keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods because these foods won't be cooked before eating them, so any bacteria that get onto the foods from the raw meat won't be killed.

Last, but not least, it is harmful to eat cooked food that has been in the fridge for a long time because bacteria can still grow even at refrigerator temperatures.