Ansan Kindergarten 'Mass Food Poisoning' Investigation Extends to Learning Process... KCDC and Ministry of Education Hold Countermeasure Meeting

No Bacteria Found in Preserved Food and Environmental Sample Tests
Secured Learning Program Table to Investigate Exposure
Health Center: "We Will Keep All Possibilities Open and Investigate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The investigation into the cause of the mass food poisoning incident at Kindergarten A located in Sangnok-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province is facing difficulties.

This is because enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) has not been detected in the preserved food samples and environmental specimens tested so far. Health authorities have decided to expand the investigation scope to include the learning process.

On the 27th, the Sangnoksu Public Health Center in Ansan announced that following the tests on preserved food and environmental specimens from Kindergarten A, they have recently obtained the learning program schedule and plan to investigate whether exposure to enterohemorrhagic E. coli occurred during the learning activities.

Preserved food refers to food materials that facilities are required to keep for 144 hours as a precaution against food poisoning incidents. Environmental specimens include all samples that could cause infections such as food poisoning to humans, such as cooking knives, cutting boards, and door handles.

A health center official said, "Until now, the investigation has focused on meals, but if there were learning activities involving drinking or touching water or soil, infection with enterohemorrhagic E. coli could have occurred during this process. Therefore, we are examining all possibilities by looking into the learning process as well."

Health authorities, including the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, plan to hold a countermeasure meeting in Ansan this afternoon with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Gyeonggi Province. The meeting is expected to discuss the cause of the food poisoning incident and consider extending the closure order currently imposed on Kindergarten A.

The kindergarten sent a text message about reopening on the 1st of next month but reversed the decision "Cancelled"
Number of symptomatic food poisoning cases has increased to 102
Among them, 15 children show symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome

Kindergarten A reportedly sent a text message to parents the day before stating that the closure order by the city, which lasts until the 30th of this month, would end and that operations would resume on the 1st of next month, but shortly afterward reversed the decision, cancelling the reopening.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this kindergarten, after one student first showed symptoms of food poisoning on the 12th, the number of symptomatic cases rapidly increased, and currently, 102 people have been counted as symptomatic food poisoning cases. Health authorities conducted enterohemorrhagic E. coli tests on 295 people, including students, their families, and staff members; 49 tested positive, 99 are awaiting results, and the remaining 147 tested negative.

Among the symptomatic children, 15 show symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, also known as hamburger disease), a complication of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Of these, 4 children are receiving kidney dialysis treatment. Including these, a total of 23 patients have been hospitalized due to this food poisoning incident (20 kindergarten students and 3 family members of students).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.