hankyoreh

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Sunday that as of May 10 there have been 111 cases of mass diarrhea so far this year, affecting 2,996 people. That is a figure eight times higher than the same period last year. This is major cause for concern because the summer season is ahead, when there has traditionally been a high number of cases.

There are other reasons for worry as compared to the situation last year: 32 percent of all cases this year were caused by Noroviruses, 17 times the figure last year. At the same time, there were 3 percent less cases of salmonella. In other words, there has been a change in what causes mass sickness. Also, there has been an eleven-fold increase in the number of outbreaks at resorts and centers specializing in work training and retreats, and 30 times more people have gotten sick at these places. At places with industrial kitchens, such as these large training centers, it would appear the problem is the use of poor quality groundwater for drinking or cooking, water that has been contaminated by Norovirus. In response, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is going to go on a publicity campaign against the use of water from underground sources or from mini-treatment facilities for use as drinking water or in cooking, and has instructed the country’s community health centers and local governments how to keep groundwater supply facilities thoroughly free from contamination.

The seriousness of the problem, however, is that under current procedures we have no way of knowing whether groundwater has Norovirus or not. The Korean Food and Drug Administration has already recommended that checking for Norovirus be something required by law. When Han Myung-sook was prime minister, she directed the responsible authorities all around the country to be on the watch for it. But the Ministry of Environment - the body that is supposed to be on the lookout - pretends nothing is the matter. It has yet to be specific plans to keep on top of Norovirus nationwide, let alone to include it in the list of things that must be checked for.

Often when groups of people come down with diarrhea, it is because of groundwater contaminated with human excrement. This is an already established fact in other countries. Most field irrigation in Korea uses groundwater, so large numbers of people can be infected at any time through fruits and vegetables. Indeed, it was already three years ago when it was proven that mass infections with Norovirus can be caused by groundwater. Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has officially expressed concern about the spread of infectious diseases resulting from global warming.

There needs to be a government-wide effort on this matter, led by the ministry responsible for environmental issues, yet still the Ministry of the Environment looks like it is ignoring the disease causing microorganisms in its environmental health policies and actually neglecting mass infections. Its behavior is unacceptable. It is enough to make you wonder why it exists as a government ministry at all.


Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]