Over 1,000 People Come Down With Illness After Eating Kimchi

(USNewsBreak.com) – Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made with salted and fermented vegetables, usually containing cabbage. It’s very popular in South Korea, where schools often serve it as part of students’ lunch meals. However, health officials have attributed a recent norovirus outbreak to the dish.

In Namwon City, South Korea, officials were on high alert after one reported case of norovirus escalated into more than 1,000 over the course of five days. The outbreak triggered an investigation into the possible infection sources. Health officials traced back illnesses to kimchi served at 24 area schools.

The Namwon City Disaster and Safety Department took action to mitigate the damages by ordering the company responsible for the contamination to halt the production and sale of kimchi for the time being. The company, which health officials didn’t name, also issued a recall for the products. Namwon City Mayor Choi Kyung-sik said the city’s health officials were taking proactive steps to prevent the virus from spreading and ensure citizens’ safety.

Norovirus is a short-lived food-borne illness. It can spread in multiple ways, making it somewhat unique. A person can contract the virus by consuming contaminated foods or liquids, coming into direct contact with someone infected with norovirus, or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their mouth. While people often refer to it as the stomach flu, it has no connection to the influenza virus.

The symptoms, which occur 12 to 48 hours after contact, include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. In some cases, patients also experience fever and headache. Dehydration often becomes the most concerning health issue. It’s important for those experiencing symptoms to consume liquids as frequently as possible to avoid dehydration.

The symptoms typically subside in 1 to 3 days. However, medical care may be necessary in extreme cases, especially for those with compromised or weakened immune systems. Media reports haven’t indicated any deaths from the outbreak.