228 people at an elementary school in Suncheon showed symptoms of suspected food poisoning... epidemiological investigation

(Suncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Son Sang-won = More than 200 students at an elementary school in Suncheon, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do showed symptoms of suspected food poisoning, and health authorities began an epidemiological investigation.

According to Suncheon City on the 21st, students at an elementary school in Suncheon have been complaining of symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea since the 17th.

As a result of a thorough survey of students, a total of 228 students were found to be symptomatic.

Health authorities collected samples from the students and requested analysis.

From the 11th to the 16th, preserved school lunches were also recalled and being investigated to see if there were any factors causing infection.

Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City, the Office of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and other related organizations held a countermeasures meeting and discussed ways to strengthen management such as personal hygiene and disinfection.

An official from Suncheon City said, “It is not possible to definitively determine that it is food poisoning yet,” and added, “It is expected to take about five days for the analysis results, including the exact cause and route of infection, to come out.”