Chungnam, Norovirus Detected in Food Manufacturing Facilities and Social Welfare Centers

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Norovirus has been detected in food manufacturing facilities and social welfare facilities in Chungnam.

The Chungnam Provincial Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 4th that it recently conducted groundwater sampling tests on 25 facilities using groundwater as food water to prevent food poisoning during the winter season, and norovirus was detected in 2 food manufacturing facilities and 2 social welfare facilities.

Unlike most viruses whose reproduction decreases as the temperature drops, norovirus is characterized by being active at low temperatures.

For this reason, it is identified as a major cause of food poisoning during the winter season. Norovirus can be indirectly transmitted through vomit or feces of infected individuals.

In particular, consuming raw ingredients processed with contaminated groundwater can cause food poisoning.

Accordingly, the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment promotes a groundwater norovirus monitoring project every year in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Provincial Health Promotion Food Division to prevent food poisoning.

In Chungnam, norovirus has been detected in 10 facilities over the past four years. By year, there were 3 facilities in 2019, 1 in 2020, 2 in 2021, and 4 this year.

However, among the 4 facilities where norovirus was detected this year, 2 were able to reuse groundwater after retesting showed no norovirus. The other 2 decided not to use groundwater as a post-measure.

Kim Ok, director of the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment, said, “Untreated groundwater is easily contaminated with norovirus, so it must be boiled before use, and shellfish such as oysters should be thoroughly cooked at 85℃ for more than 1 minute before consumption.”

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