VietNamNet Bridge – The former director of the Department of Home Affairs of the southern province of Bac Lieu died on December 11 after eating bat blood pudding, local newspapers reported.

Bac Lieu’s official Huynh Van Hoi on December 10 evening joined a party, where he drank alcohol and bat blood pudding. Returning home that night, Hoi had a sore stomach and diarrhea, and vomited.

Hoi was taken to Phuoc Long District General Hospital the next morning but he died before arriving at the hospital.

Many people guessed that Hoi got food poisoning by eating bat blood pudding.

Mr. Le Thanh Phong, Director of the Phuoc Long District General Hospital, said Hoi died of intestinal infection shock.

Phong said there was no scientific evidence proving that one can die of eating bat blood pudding.

Hoi, former director of the Department of Home Affairs of Bac Lieu province retired only a few months ago.

People in some southern provinces of Vietnam have long processed bats into many dishes. However, doctors warn that the bat is a wild animal so people should not use bats as food without knowing their origin.

Linh Nhat