"Beware of 'Norovirus Food Poisoning' at infant and toddler facilities such as kindergartens."

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that the number of suspected norovirus food poisoning reports increases in infant and toddler facilities such as daycare centers and kindergartens in winter, and asked them to follow preventive rules.

In the past three years, 132 suspected food poisoning reports have been received at infant facilities between November and February, 83% of which are due to norovirus.

Norovirus survives at low temperatures and is mainly prevalent in winter, and recently, cases have been reported in June, early summer.

In particular, infants and toddlers are easily infected with norovirus due to their weak immunity.

Health officials said norovirus spreads to vomit, feces, and saliva, and stressed that people with suspected symptoms of food poisoning should not participate in the cooking process of school meals.