In-season 'Senggul' Food poisoning alert Incheon Himchan Hospital "Active at minus 20 degrees Celsius of norovirus"
Dec 05, 2024
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In particular, if there is a mark such as 'for cooking' or 'cooked' on the packaging of oyster products, it must be consumed by heating at a central temperature of 85℃ for at least 1 minute.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged people to comply with food poisoning prevention rules such as cooking and washing hands to prevent norovirus food poisoning from increasing in winter. With the help of Son Hyo-moon, vice president of the Department of Gastroenterology at Himchan General Hospital in Incheon, we summarized norovirus food poisoning to be careful in winter.
◇ Half of food poisoning occurs in winter...Watch out for norovirus infection
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a total of 243 cases of norovirus food poisoning (4,279 patients) have occurred in the past five years (2019-2023), and as a result of analyzing monthly trends, 119 cases of food poisoning occurred from December to February of the following year, with about 49% of the total number of food poisoning cases occurring in winter.
The most common places for norovirus food poisoning are group food service centers such as schools and daycare centers, followed by restaurants and homes.
Food poisoning is generally believed to be only necessary to be careful of spoiled foods, but norovirus spreads not only through contaminated food intake but also through human-to-human contact. Norovirus is also contagious enough to be infected with only about 10 particles, but unlike rotavirus, there is no special vaccine, so we have no choice but to thoroughly observe personal hygiene and be careful of food.
◇Dehydration symptoms if symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever are severe
When infected with norovirus, the incubation period continues for one to two days. After that, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle pain come along, and in severe cases, dehydration is accompanied. Most of them heal naturally within three days, but in foreign countries such as Japan, an elderly person with underlying diseases has lost his or her life. In general, conservative treatment is performed to prevent dehydration by supplying moisture, and fluid supply may be necessary if dehydration is severe.
Son Hyo-moon, vice president of the Department of Gastroenterology at Himchan General Hospital in Incheon, emphasized, `Noroviruses are active at minus 20°C, and unlike bacteria, if the temperature drops in winter, the survival period is rather longer, so we should be alert.'
◇ Fish and shellfish must be cooked at 85℃ for at least 1 minute…Wash your hands thoroughly
To prevent norovirus infection, be careful not to eat seafood contaminated with sea water or fresh food raw. In particular, caution is needed when eating raw oysters or gwamegi, which are in season these days. Fish and shellfish such as oysters should be cooked as much as possible because norovirus will die if cooked at a central temperature of 85℃ for more than 1 minute.
Unsterilized groundwater is boiled and used. It is better to soak fruits and vegetables in clean water and wash them in running water. Cookware is also disinfected with hot water or sterilized using a disinfectant.
Thorough hand washing is basic. Use a detergent such as soap to thoroughly wash your fingers, back of hands, and palm with running water for more than 30 seconds. Maintaining cleanliness around the area is also essential. Since it is often infected through the patient's feces, vomit, saliva, and contaminated hands, inside and outside the bathroom, toilets, and door handles are wiped frequently using alcohol disinfectants.
In addition, if you plan to travel abroad this winter, you should pay special attention to prevention.
Vice President Son Hyo-moon said, `Norovirus is commonly transmitted from person to person through feces or vomit of infected people, and the infection rate is also fast.' `Personal hygiene should be maintained thoroughly, especially in crowded places such as daycare centers, schools, military units, and nursing facilities" he advised.
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bellho@sportschosun.com
