Health inspectors take samples of dog meat from Dung Thit Cho Restaurant in Cau Giay District in Hanoi.

Two restaurants in Hanoi were suspended Thursday for selling dog meat without certificate of origin after samples from some abattoirs tested positive for the cholera bacteria that has infected dozens in northern Vietnam.

The inspections were in line with an instruction issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung Thursday asking the Ministry of Health, concerned agencies and provincial administrations to enforce foods hygiene and prevent the spread of acute diarrhea.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health to conduct around the clock supervision nationwide, especially at international border gates, and stop the spread of acute diarrhea as soon as possible.

He also ordered all provincial authorities to mobilize their forces and supervise food suppliers and slaughterhouses.

The Health Ministry has reported increasing cases of acute diarrhea in the cities of Hanoi and Hai Phong, as well as the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Bac Ninh and Nam Dinh, including patients infected with cholera, and warned of a possible outbreak.

Bacteria in meat

Earlier, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said samples of dog meat taking from slaughterhouses in Hanoi’s Ha Dong Town tested positive to the vibrio bacterium that causes cholera.

“Three of the four slaughterhouses in Duong Noi Commune in the town had dog meat that contained the cholera bacteria,” said institute director Nguyen Tran Hien.

“The bacteria were also found on all equipment at these three facilities and in wastewater released after slaughtering,” he added.

He said the bacteria in infected meat could spread to other foods, including raw vegetables, shrimp paste and cooked meat during transportation and sale.

“We found that the slaughterhouses in Duong Noi Commune have bought dogs from other provinces and even across the border,” he said, adding that further investigation will be conducted on the bacterial infection.

Nguyen Huy Nga, spokesman of the Ministry of Health told Bloomberg Thursday this is the first time cholera bacteria had been found in dog meat samples, both cooked and uncooked.

Dog meat should only be consumed if it is well-cooked, while shrimp paste, raw vegetables, herbs and salads should be avoided altogether while the risk of cholera is high, he said.

Increasing infections

“More than 100 patients were admitted to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology as of yesterday afternoon with acute diarrhea and half of them were infected with cholera,” said the institute’s deputy director Nguyen Hong Ha.

“Around 30 patients, mostly from Hanoi, are being admitted to the institute everyday,” he added.

He said these patients have occupied 60 percent of the beds at the institute although some have had to share a bed with another patient.

“There have been many serious cases in comparison with past years,” he said. “The bacteria may have modified to a new strain with higher toxicity.”

Ha also warned diarrhea cases should be examined at the hospital as soon as possible because the problem could turn worse within half a day.

In Hai Phong City, health authorities have reported three of seven patients admitted with acute diarrhea to local hospitals were infected with cholera.

A total of 24 patients of acute diarrhea has been recorded in the northern port city since the first case was detected on May 3, including 11 cholera cases.

The city administration has instructed concerned authorities to enforce preventive measures against the disease.

Hai Phong Health Department has been ordered to prepare sufficient medicines and offer free treatment to cholera patients.

In Thanh Hoa Province, the Center of Preventive Health reported the acute diarrhea epidemic has spread to six towns and districts as of Thursday afternoon.

Thirteen patients have tested positive for cholera while test results were yet to be revealed for 17 others from Quang Xuong and Hau Loc districts.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on Wednesday worked with the center and collected tissue samples from dogs in Hau Loc District where nearly 40 households supply dogs for meat.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff