36 Children at Busan Daycare Show Symptoms of Mass Food Poisoning... 11 Hospitalized

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Health authorities have launched an epidemiological investigation after children at a daycare center in Busan showed symptoms of mass food poisoning.

According to Busan City on the 2nd, the number of children at a daycare center in Yeonje-gu exhibiting suspected food poisoning symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea increased by 2 from the previous day (the 1st) to 36.

The number of hospitalized children also rose from 10 to 11, and Salmonella bacteria, a food poisoning pathogen, were detected in 3 of them. However, symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which was reported to have caused a mass outbreak at a kindergarten in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, were not found.

Health authorities collected and tested 15 samples, including 5 preserved food samples from the daycare center, drinking water, door handles, toilet bowls, knives, cutting boards, and trays. In addition, samples from 14 individuals, including 13 children and 1 food handler, were submitted for testing.

According to health authorities, some children began showing suspected symptoms on the 26th of last month, but the report was made three days later, on the 29th.

According to Yonhap News, Busan health authorities stated, "On the morning of the 29th of last month, many parents reported the situation to the local health center and environmental hygiene department, and in the afternoon, the city sent an epidemiological investigation team to the daycare center for an on-site investigation," adding, "It was confirmed that the daycare center did not report the occurrence of food poisoning patients in a timely manner."