Article published August 20, 2004 OTTAWA COUNTY Outbreak of illness totals 300 victims By STEVE MURPHY BLADE STAFF WRITER
The number of suspected cases of gastrointestinal illness in an Ottawa County outbreak climbed past 300 yesterday, and authorities received a test result that confirmed at least one person has been infected with salmonella.
Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health, said the salmonella case is in addition to four cases of campylobacter infection reported earlier this week by private health care providers.
Officials are awaiting test results on 12 stool samples submitted to state health authorities by the county health department. Investigators hope the results, which could be released as early as today, will shed some light on the mysterious illness and its source and causes.
Mr. Weiss said the county health department tallied 301 cases of the illness yesterday and was preparing to talk with 94 other possible victims.
Investigators are still focusing on South Bass Island as the common thread in most of the cases, though some people have reported symptoms after visiting Middle Bass Island and areas along the Lake Erie mainland in Ottawa County.
"The cause of illness is still undetermined in this investigation," Mr. Weiss said. "Some cases may be excluded from this outbreak. Gastrointestinal illness in Ohio, especially in the summer, is not uncommon."
Ohio typically has about 1,200 cases of campylobacter infection each year and about 1,300 cases of salmonella, Mr. Weiss said.
County and state officials have not established a link among the four confirmed campylobacter cases and the single salmonella infection, the state health department spokesman said.
Earlier this week, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said tests had detected E. coli bacteria - an indicator of possible fecal contamination - in well water at two food-service businesses on South Bass Island. EPA and county health department inspectors visited the island Wednesday to examine sewage systems and test the well water at Heineman's Winery and Joe's Bar and Press House.
No results were available yesterday. Dina Pierce, an EPA spokesman, said additional tests have been scheduled for Monday.
Authorities have stressed that the positive E. coli test results, obtained last month at the two businesses, do not necessarily point to the businesses as the source of the outbreak.
County health officials began receiving reports in early July of people experiencing 24-hour bouts of nausea, chills, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, accompanied by diarrhea in some cases. Most of the cases involve South Bass Island residents or visitors.
Mr. Weiss said county health officials are continuing to handle the bulk of the investigation.
The state is analyzing the stool samples provided by the county and helping handle media inquiries, he added.
Campylobacter and salmonella infections cause almost identical symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by eating food contaminated with animal feces, while campylobacter can be spread through tainted water or food.
Dr. Haig Donabedian, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical College of Ohio, said the two bacteria are the top causes of diarrheal illness in the United States.
"I wouldn't say there's much difference between them," he said.
In many instances, people may be infected with either of the bacteria and have no symptoms.
That, Dr. Donabedian said, often aids the spread of the infection, especially salmonella.
"The way this starts is the person who's handling this food isn't ill, doesn't know to go home, doesn't know to stay away from people ... that's how these organisms spread," he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, people should not eat raw or or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat.
Uncooked meats should be kept away from ready-to-eat foods, and food preparation tools and surfaces should be washed thoroughly after coming into contact with uncooked food.
Authorities also recommend frequent hand-washing with soap and water.
Contact Steve Murphy at: smurphy@theblade.com or 419-724-6078. Permanent LinkOutbreak of illness totals 300 victimshttp://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040820/NEWS32/408200377/STORY:2004408200377
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