"Not washing hands after touching raw eggs and chicken"... Diarrhea and vomiting, 'this illness' reaches its highest level in 5 years

As summer approaches, the number of reported cases of gastrointestinal infections has reached a five-year high due to increased consumption of water and food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.

 

According to the 'Hospital-Level Medical Institution Infection Surveillance' survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 8th, the number of reported cases in the fourth week of July was 502, which is 1.6 times higher than the first week of this month (315 cases). This is the highest weekly number reported in the past five years. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.

 

The main diseases were Campylobacter infection with 227 cases (45.2%), Salmonella infection with 146 cases (29.1%), and other 9 types (including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, invasive Escherichia coli, etc.) accounting for 25.7%.

 

In particular, the number of reported cases of Campylobacter infection has more than doubled compared to the first week of July (111 cases). This bacteria is transmitted through the consumption of undercooked meat (especially poultry), unpasteurized dairy products, contaminated water and food. Since this bacteria can be present on the skin of raw chicken, even if it is cooked thoroughly, secondary contamination can occur during washing or preparation processes, leading to infection.

 

Salmonella infections have increased by approximately 1.5 times. This bacteria is often transmitted through cross-contamination when eggs are left at room temperature for a long time or when handling eggs contaminated with Salmonella without washing hands before preparing ingredients.

 

Therefore, it is best to wash raw chicken last, and care must be taken to prevent water from splashing onto other ingredients and causing contamination.

 

Professor Eom Jung-sik of Gil Hospital's Infectious Diseases Department said, "Healthy adults typically recover from diarrhea within 24 hours, but rarely, patients infected with Campylobacter bacteria may experience a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius and swelling of the entire intestine, requiring hospitalization." He advised, "If you have a high fever or severe dehydration symptoms, you should visit a hospital for testing."

 

Furthermore, it is recommended to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration if symptoms are not severe. It was also added that although some patients with severe diarrhea use antidiarrheal medications, bacteria or toxins may remain in the intestines for a long time, leading to other complications, so it is better not to take them more than once.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency urged the Minister to prevent infectious diseases to especially ensure thorough cooking of food. It is also recommended to follow personal hygiene rules such as hand washing and to wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water before eating.

 

Director Ji-Young Mi of the Disease Control Agency stated, "This summer, temperatures are higher than usual, so extra caution is needed to prevent gastrointestinal infections," and added, "Please follow preventive measures such as safe food consumption and hand washing, and immediately report any cases of group diarrhea (two or more people) to the nearest health center."

 

The following are the recommended guidelines for preventing waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases proposed by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

 

Wash hands with soap under running water for more than 30 seconds

 

Cook food thoroughly before eating

 

▲ Boil water before drinking

 

▲Wash vegetables and fruits in clean water and peel before eating

 

Do not cook when experiencing diarrhea symptoms

 

▲Prepare food hygienically

 

▲ Disinfect knives and cutting boards after use, and use separate cutting boards for fish, meat, and vegetables

 

Reporter Im Jong-eon (eoni@kormedi.com)

.....

I don't eat chicken, so I don't handle chickens.

There aren't many, but when cooking or boiling eggs.

There were times I didn't wash my hands well, but I touched an egg.

If you don't wash, infection can occur through cross-contamination.

I must wash my hands.

The Disease Control Agency also knows the prevention guidelines, but I printed them out and stuck them on the refrigerator.