In just four days (from July 2 to July 6), three individuals in Trảy Village, Cẩm Thạch Commune, Cẩm Thủy District, died under mysterious circumstances. Nearly 20 others were hospitalized with symptoms of headaches and numbness in their limbs.
On the afternoon of July 6, Mr. Lê Văn Mai, 44, was out fishing when he suddenly experienced chest pain. His family rushed him to the Cẩm Thủy District Medical Center, but he did not survive. Mr. Mai’s mother, Mrs. Cao Thị Tam, 82, also suffered a stroke and passed away shortly after.
Three days prior, 11-year-old Hà Thị Lệ, who lived next to the Mai family, fainted and died shortly after returning home from buying candy. Before her passing, Lệ was in perfect health.
Mr. Bùi Minh Hiếu, Director of the Cẩm Thủy General Medical Center, reported that Mr. Mai arrived at the Trảy health station on the afternoon of July 6 with initial symptoms indicative of a heart attack and high blood pressure (180/135 mmHg).
After receiving medication to lower his blood pressure, the patient was transferred to the medical center. Tests, including an electrocardiogram, revealed that Mr. Mai was experiencing ventricular tachycardia. His mother likely succumbed to the pain of her son’s death, leading to her own passing.
Mr. Hiếu noted that these deaths have caused considerable alarm among residents, especially since many have reported symptoms such as headaches, limb numbness, and decreased muscle tone. The Cẩm Thủy Medical Center promptly dispatched staff to Trảy Village, bringing nearly 20 patients for monitoring and treatment.
On the night of July 6, Thanh Hóa Department of Health officials collected blood, urine, and well water samples for testing. Preliminary findings indicated that the three deceased individuals were in a state of physical weakness, with no evidence of infectious disease. It is likely that this is a case of vitamin B1 absorption disorder.
The district medical center has sent personnel to the village to monitor the health of residents and advised them to consume more green vegetables and unrefined rice. Hospitalized patients are being treated with high doses of vitamin B1. However, the center has requested higher authorities to conduct a more thorough investigation into the phenomena occurring in Trảy Village.