Korean food has become increasingly popular on the internet lately. Many delicacies, like bibimbap and kimchi, have captured people's attention with their unique flavors. But even as these foods are being celebrated, South Korea has recently had a setback related to the well-liked kimchi. Approximately one thousand South Koreans are said to have contracted a food illness after ingesting this well-known treat.
The BBC reports that eating kimchi tainted with norovirus has been connected to a massive disease outbreak in South Korea. According to the report, 996 confirmed cases were reported by Namwon City officials on Friday morning. Namwon City is located in the southwest of the country.
By early Saturday afternoon, the number had increased to 1024, according to reports on the internet.
The tainted kimchi was reportedly served to city schools as part of school lunch programs. Additionally, it has been claimed that a variety of symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, are currently plaguing students and staff from 24 schools.
The highly contagious norovirus can be transmitted by coming into contact with contaminated objects and infected people. Despite the fact that the infection usually goes away on its own in a few days, it can cause serious discomfort and problems, especially in vulnerable populations.
Dehydration, an imbalance in electrolytes, acute gastroenteritis, and other stomach illnesses can all be caused by the virus. The first case was recorded the day before; therefore, on Wednesday, Namwon City officials opened an epidemiological inquiry. The number of cases escalated rapidly, rising from 153 on Wednesday to 745 by Thursday.