Trends of Recent Food-Borne Disease Outbreaks in Korea

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes recent food-borne disease outbreaks in Korea by month, pathogen, dining place, and scale. In particular, imported cases are described separately. Sources of information include surveillance and statistic data and reports of KCDC/MOHW and KFDA, and scientific journals from home and abroad. Investigation results indicate that reports of food-borne disease cases and imported cases are increasing continuously in Korea. Many cases still occur in May and June, and new cases increasingly occur in December. Other new characteristic of the recent outbreaks is that they are increasingly attributable to pathogens such as Norovirus and EHEC. Outbreaks at mass meal preparation facilities represent a large proportion of cases, mainly due to the increase in the possibilities for common exposure, pathogen mobility, meat consumption, and the detection itself. To address this health problem, water and sewer service must be widely provided, food materials must be handled thoroughly, and good personal hygiene including proper hand washing must be further underscored. As a responsible agency, KCDC will also need to conduct thorough epidemiological investigations, establish an efficient surveillance system, work in a prompt manner, and enhance partnerships with various agencies.