Eight people have been hospitalized after eating eels at a restaurant in Phuc Tho District, Hanoi.

Three critical cases were later transferred to the Poison Control Center under Bach Mai Hospital, a large hospital in the Vietnamese capital, and were diagnosed with eel poisoning.

M., residing in Phuc Tho District, one of the patients undergoing treatment at Bach Mai Hospital, said nine people ate eels at a party on Friday last week.

Eight of them were rushed to hospital on the evening of the same day, while the remaining was monitored at home as he suffered milder symptoms.

“This is the first time I have eaten this kind of fish. Four hours after eating it, I suffered fatigue, flagging hands and feet, headache, vomiting, continuous bowel movement, jaw muscle spasm, and numb tongue symptoms," M. said.

“My family members later rushed me to hospital."

B., another resident in Phuc Tho District who also attended the party, developed the symptoms of muscle pain, flagging hands and feet, jaw muscle spasm, and numb tongue.

She called other attendees of the party and knew that they had the same conditions. Her family members later took her to hospital as well.

Doctor Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the Poison Control Center under Bach Mai Hospital, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the three patients treated at the hospital are in stable condition and are undergoing further treatment.

Dr. Nguyen added that eel poisoning is common among seafood poisoning cases.

Eels contain some types of toxins that may cause poisoning.

Common symptoms of eel poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, stomachache, and muscle spasm and often appear two to six hours after eating eels.

He advised residents against eating large amounts of eel, especially the internal organs.

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