More than 1000 people fall sick after eating Kimchi contaminated with Norovirus

In recent times, Korean food has taken the internet by storm. From Kimchi to Bibimbap, there are many dishes that have made us addicted to their flavours. While we are busy celebrating this dish, people of South Korea recently suffered from the popular Kimchi dish a lot. Scroll down to know how and why.
As per reports, about 1,000 people in South Korea suffered food poisoning after reportedly eating this delicacy.According to the BBC, mass illness was reported in South Korea linked to consumption of kimchi contaminated with norovirus. The report also mentioned that on Friday morning, officials in Namwon City, in the southwest of the country, announced that there had been 996 confirmed cases. As per online reports, the number had increased to 1,024 by early Saturday afternoon.

As per the local media, the contaminated kimchi was distributed through school meals in the city. It is also reported that students and staff from 24 schools were among the patients who are now complaining of various symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pains.
For the uninitiated, norovirus is a highly contagious disease that can be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces and from people who are already infected.While norovirus infections are generally self-limiting and resolve within a few days, they can cause significant discomfort and complications, especially in vulnerable populations. The virus can further cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, severe gastroenteritis, and other stomach infections. Namwon City officials began an epidemiological investigation on Wednesday after the first case was reported the previous day. The number of cases quickly increased from 153 on Wednesday to 745 by Thursday.

As per local media, the city officials reported that norovirus was found in patients, environmental samples, and some of the kimchi regularly delivered to schools. As a result, the disaster and safety department temporarily stopped the production and sale of any products from the company that made the kimchi.