The researchers explained that as young people have unstable immune systems, they are more likely to get infected by these germs and could get food poisoning. (image: Daejeon City Government)
DAEJEON, Mar. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study found harmful bacteria on the cell phones of dozens of teenagers in Daejeon.
The Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment conducted a test on 116 elementary, middle and high school students. The test was to show whether students’ cell phones had any harmful bacteria.
The results were released on Tueday and revealed 20 cases of bacillus cereus bacteria and 17 cases of staphylococcus aureus.
The researchers explained that as young people have unstable immune systems, they are more likely to get infected by these germs and could get food poisoning.
It has been suggested that cell phones, which are essential for teenagers, may act as food poisoning carriers. Fortunately, other bacteria were not detected during the test.
“If an infectious disease occurs in schools, it can spread quickly,” said Lee Jae-myeon, head of the institute.
“Since bacteria in the hands can be transferred to cell phones and spread from a cell phone to the hands of other students, both proper hand washing and periodic cell phone disinfection are necessary.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
