From the 25th to the 28th, residents who ate at the Saenggeojincheon Cultural Festival venue in Jincheon County, North Chungcheong, showed group food poisoning symptoms, prompting authorities to launch an epidemiological investigation, and the number of patients with symptoms is increasing.
According to Jincheon County on the 30th, as of the morning of the previous day, 170 people (75 men, 95 women) showed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and by 6 p.m. the same day, 26 more suspected food poisoning patients had been added. Forty people are hospitalized at Jincheon Jungang Jeil Hospital and elsewhere, while the remaining 156 are receiving outpatient treatment. They are reported to be showing food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea, chills, fever, and headache.
Jincheon County Public Health Center said, "Fortunately, so far there appear to be no patients in critical condition."
Seven towns and townships operated restaurants at the festival site, and it is known that a food poisoning incident occurred at a restaurant in Township A. At the time, the restaurant reportedly ordered a Korean buffet for 350 people, so the number of suspected patients could increase.
The North Chungcheong Institute of Health and Environment, commissioned by Jincheon County, is conducting detailed tests of patients' specimens to determine the cause.
Jincheon County decided to fully compensate hospital treatment costs for patients through a settlement.