The popular kimchi dish has been blamed for a norovirus outbreak in South Korea.
In South Korea, over 1,000 people fell ill after consuming kimchi that was contaminated with norovirus.
An outbreak of food poisoning linked to norovirus-contaminated kimchi has affected Namwon City, South Korea, sickening over 1,000 people, according to BBC reports. Local authorities reported nearly 1,000 confirmed cases by Friday, with media outlets estimating the number to be over 1,000 by Saturday afternoon.
The source of the outbreak appears to be contaminated kimchi, a staple fermented cabbage dish commonly served in South Korea. This kimchi was distributed through school meal programs, leading to students and staff at 24 schools experiencing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or infected individuals. Most people recover within a few days without needing hospitalization, but some cases can be severe.
Due to the rapidly increasing number of cases (from 153 on Wednesday to 745 on Thursday), Namwon City officials launched an investigation on Wednesday, the day after the first case was reported.
Mayor Choi Kyung-sik used social media to reassure residents that health officials were taking aggressive steps to contain the outbreak. Tests confirmed the presence of norovirus in patients, environmental samples, and the kimchi delivered to schools.
As a result, the city's disaster and safety department took decisive action by temporarily suspending production and sales from the kimchi company involved. The company also cooperated in the voluntary recall of all distributed kimchi products. The company's name has not yet been officially released.
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