Pheng had previously prepared tea with some roots and leaves taken from the forest for her daughter, Lo Thi Mau, to bath in and drink in accordance with a traditional postnatal treatment for women used in ethnic Thai communities.

After pouring the tea into a thermos, Pheng felt dizzy and tired, Van said.

Van then asked other people to come to take care of her and offered them a drink of the tea.

At around 10 p.m. Van’s son-in-law, Lo Van Huong, cooked instant noodles with the tea.

After eating the noodles around 2 a.m. both Van and Huong felt nauseated, had respiratory problems and turned pale. They were rushed to a local health clinic but died on the way.

At the same time, 13 people who drank the tea at Van’s house had the same symptoms and were also rushed to the clinic. One of them, Lo Van Ngo, died at the clinic.

Local agencies suspect that the roots and leaves contained poison, according to Van.

Source: VNA