SUNCHEON — Health authorities are conducting an epidemiological investigation after more than 200 students at an elementary school in Suncheon, Jeonnam-Gwangju, showed symptoms of suspected food poisoning.
Students at the school began reporting vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea on the 17th, the Suncheon city government said on the 21st. A survey of all students found that 228 had symptoms.
Health authorities collected samples from the affected students and sent them for analysis. They also retrieved preserved meal samples from the school cafeteria for Oct. 11 to 16 to check for sources of infection.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, the provincial education office and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held a joint meeting to discuss stronger measures on personal hygiene and disinfection. Results confirming whether the cases were food poisoning, along with the exact source and route of infection, are expected to take about five days.