[Waterborne and Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in Metropolitan Areas of the Republic of Korea, 2023].

The Capital Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention manages surveillance systems and epidemiological investigations to prevent the spread of waterborne and foodborne diseases in metropolitan areas. In 2023, 268 outbreaks of waterborne and foodborne diseases were reported in metropolitan areas, with norovirus being the most prevalent in 111 cases (41.4%), followed by pathogenic Escherichia coli in 24 cases (9.0%), and salmonella in 17 cases (6.3%). Norovirus outbreaks mostly occur in winter and spring, whereas bacterial outbreaks, including those caused by pathogenic E. coli, mainly occur in summer and autumn. Of the 268 outbreaks, 78 (29.1%) occurred in restaurants, 71 (26.5%) occurred in schools, 67 (25.0%) in childcare centers. By region, 116 (43.2%) cases were reported in Gyeonggi, 73 (27.8%) in Seoul, 53 (19.7%) in Gangwon, and 26 (9.7%) in Incheon. Because different pathogens prevail in each season, waterborne and foodborne diseases emerge consistently throughout the year. Therefore, making it a habit to follow infection prevention guidelines and focus on managing facilities with high outbreak occurrences in each region is necessary in order to prevent and control the spread of waterborne and foodborne diseases.