Busan City Urges Compliance with Prevention Guidelines for Waterborne and Foodborne Infectious Diseases

Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases and Increase in Salmonella Infections in Summer

Emergency Quarantine System Activated and Regular Salmonella Surveillance System Established

Busan City recently urged compliance with summer prevention guidelines for waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases as outbreaks of these diseases and reports of Salmonella infections have increased.

Prevention Guidelines for Waterborne and Foodborne Infectious Diseases.

In the first half of this year, the number of waterborne and foodborne infectious disease outbreaks in Busan reached 25 cases, showing an increasing trend compared to the same period over the past three years (8 cases in 2020, 19 cases in 2021, and 16 cases in 2022). Additionally, the occurrence of Salmonella infections, a representative waterborne and foodborne infectious disease, is also rising with the arrival of summer.

Especially during the hot and humid summer season, bacterial growth accelerates, leading to a significant increase in waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases caused by bacteria such as Salmonella. Therefore, caution, adherence to personal prevention guidelines, and hygiene management are essential.

The main prevention guidelines include ▲ washing hands with soap under running water for at least 30 seconds ▲ thoroughly cooking food before eating ▲ drinking boiled water ▲ washing vegetables and fruits with clean water and peeling them before consumption ▲ refraining from cooking when experiencing diarrhea symptoms ▲ practicing hygienic cooking ▲ disinfecting knives and cutting boards after use and using separate cutting boards for fish, meat, and vegetables.

Busan City is urging compliance with these prevention guidelines while also strengthening related quarantine response systems. In cooperation with the Gyeongnam Regional Disease Control Center and health centers of 16 districts and counties, an emergency quarantine response system for waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases has been activated. To respond to Salmonella outbreaks, a regular Salmonella surveillance system has been established linking Busan City, the Health and Environment Research Institute, and the Infectious Disease Control Support Group.

Lee Sora, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau, stated, “As outbreaks of waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases and Salmonella infections are increasing recently, we ask all citizens to thoroughly understand and comply with the related prevention guidelines.” She added, “Our city will do its utmost to protect citizens’ safety from infectious diseases by operating a more strengthened quarantine response system.”

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