Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Food Poison Journal

Public health officials in North Carolina have not been able to identify the foodborne pathogen that sickened at least 76 people who attended a Force Protection Industries plant dedication in Roxboro.  The cause of the food poisoning outbreak has thus far been narrowed down to pork loin and/or pasta vegetable salad, according to an article in the Roxboro Courier. 

When interviewed, David Bergmire-Sweat of the Epidemiology Section of the N.C. Division of Public Health noted that improper holding temperatures for food can contribute to the growth of bacteria.  As reported by the Courier:

“Cold foods should be held at 45 degrees or below and hot foods should be cooked to the proper temperature or reheated to 165 degrees and then maintained at 135 degrees or above,” officials emphasized.

The Force Protection function was held on Friday, Nov. 30, at the former Collins & Aikman Corp. Elm Plant, which FP has refitted for production of the company’s Cheetah bomb-resistant armored vehicle.

Approximately 400 people attended the dedication ceremony, and the health department reported that 76 of the 335 people contacted, after health officials began investigating on Dec. 4, reported suffering from symptoms such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea and chills.

Improper food handling and holding temperatures have contributed to the spread of pathogens in several other outbreak-situations.

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The Seattle Times reported today that 300 detainees being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma/Pierce County became ill with food poisoning Sunday night.  Some workers at the facility also fell ill with symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhea and vomiting.  The Times' report on the outbreak included the following:

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department officials said they were contacted Saturday night after about 180 detainees were treated for diarrhea, nausea and vomiting at the detention-center clinic.

They had been served three meals that day that included hamburger-potato casserole for lunch and beef sausage and coleslaw for dinner.

Most began showing symptoms late Saturday, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said, adding that detention-center staff, who sometimes eat there, also got ill.

Joby Winans, public health-information officer, said Tacoma-Pierce County health officials were at the detention center Sunday, Monday and again Tuesday to try to determine what made so many people sick.

The CDC estimates that 76 million foodborne illness, or food poisoning, cases occur in the United States every year, which means that one in four Americans contracts a foodborne illness annually after eating foods contaminated with such pathogens as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Campylobacter, Shigella, Norovirus, and Listeria. Approximately 325,000 people are hospitalized with a diagnosis of food poisoning, and 5,000 die. The estimated costs in terms of medical expenses and lost wages or productivity are between $6.5 and $34.9 billion (Buzby and Roberts, 1997; Mead, et al., 1999).

While most foodborne illness cases go unreported to health departments, nearly 13.8 million food poisoning cases are caused by known agents: 30% by bacteria, 67% by viruses, and 3% parasites (Mead, et al., 1999).

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The Cedar Heights Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa hosts an annual Thanksgiving dinner that is open to all church members as well as the general public.

The 2004 dinner was prepared and delivered to the church by the Hy-Vee grocery store located on University Avenue in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The consisted of turkey meat, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, coffee, milk, lemonade, rolls, and butter. Approximately 750 meals were served at the dinner, including approximately 140 delivered to homes by church volunteers.

The first report of illness came on the morning of Monday, November 29, 2004. The Black Hawk County Health Department received a complaint from a mother and her two children that they experienced watery diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps approximately ten hours after consuming the church-provided meal. Based on this information, the health department initiated an outbreak investigation and contacted the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology for assistance.

The investigation team interviewed both ill and healthy patrons of the church dinner. From the lists provided by the church and information acquired during telephone interviews, 56 individuals were identified as attending the event, and another 56 individuals were identified as receiving home delivered dinners. The investigation team collected information on signs and symptoms of illness, onset times of illness, foods eaten, and whether they ate their dinners at home or at the church.

After the investigation team had concluded the interview process, questionnaires were analyzed from 110 individuals that had either attended the church dinner or received a home meal from the church; 58 of the 110 met the case definition for ill. The investigation team documented the following symptoms and their frequency in the ill cases:

•Diarrhea – 89.5%
•Abdominal cramps – 79.3%
•Nausea – 43.1%
•Vomiting – 27.6%
•Headache – 24.1%
•Chills – 24.1%
•Muscle aches – 21.1%
•Fever – 5.2%

On Tuesday, November 30, the Health Officer from Black Hawk County met with various employees at the Hi-Vee grocery store that prepared the turkey dinners. In an interview with the Deli Manager, details were discovered regarding the preparation of the turkey meat used in the dinner. The breast meat was received frozen at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 22. The breast meat was placed in the walk-in refrigerator to thaw. The thigh meat was not received frozen and therefore did not require thawing. On Wednesday, November 24, the breast and thigh meat was baked in accordance with the directions of the manufacturer, Willow Brook Foods. As such, the turkey meat was baked in a convection oven at 350º for 2 ½ to 3 hours, “to an internal temperature of 160º”. The meat was then placed in the cooler overnight.

There was some confusion regarding the length of time the turkey was actually cooked, however. One employee stated the turkey was cooked in the convection oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours until it reached an internal temperature of 160º, as directed by the manufacturer. Conversely, in the field investigation notes of investigator Jon D. McNamee, it states that “the product is kept frozen, then slacked to a ½ frozen state. They are panned 8 to a pan and placed in a 350º oven for 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hour to an internal temp of 160º.” Notably, under either scenario, the turkey was only cooked to an internal temperature of 160.

On the issue of proper cooking times, the health department noted in it’s final report that cooking the turkey to an internal temperature of only 160º was in violation of the Iowa Food Code. “The processor’s finished temperature requirements for this product are not in compliance with Section 3-401.11(3) of the Iowa Food Code which states that poultry shall be cooked to 165º or above for 15 seconds.”

On the day of the event, the turkey meat was taken out of the cooler, sliced, placed on disposable aluminum pans, and the placed back in the convection oven to cook at 350º for approximately 1 hour, to an internal temperature of 165º. The meat was then placed in the hot-hold deli cases. At about 10:00 a.m., the first of three shipments of the meat was moved from the deli cases, covered with cellophane and foil, and placed in plastic food carriers for transport to the church.

It was reported to the investigators that stem thermometer readings of the turkey meat were taken throughout the preparation and holding process. However, it is important to note that no documentation of these temperatures was kept.

Due to the large amount of food being prepared, three deliveries were made to the church on November 25. Deliveries were made from Hy-Vee to the church at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Church volunteers served the meals directly from the holding units they were received in to the event attendees. Many of the same volunteers also apportioned the meals into Styrofoam containers for those receiving home delivery meals.

During the investigation a number of food samples were obtained. Some samples were obtained from the Hy-Vee store, while others came from attendees who had leftovers in their home. After laboratory analysis, it was determined that the turkey meat contained a high number of Clostridium perfringens (4.3 x 105), total and fecal coliforms, and a high aerobic plate count. The laboratory interpretation was as follows: “Criteria used by the CDC to identify an outbreak include isolation of 105 C. perfringens from the epidemiologically implicated food. Even though the turkey was not epidemiologically implicated (statistics not significant), the presence of high numbers of C. perfringens, total and fecal coliform, and high aerobic plate count in a cooked product supports the hypothesis that the product was highly contaminated (indicators of cleanliness). Since the symptoms were consistent with C. perfringens type A food poisoning and C. perfringens type A organisms were isolated from the turkey in significantly high numbers, this food product likely contributed to the outbreak.”

Based on the results of the epidemiological and environmental investigations, the health department concluded that C. perfringens was the most likely cause of the church turkey dinner outbreak. “Laboratory and clinical evidence in this case appears to point to Clostridium perfringens as the most likely causative agent. In most instances, the actual cause of poisoning by C. perfringens is temperature abuse of prepared foods. Small numbers of the organism are present after cooking and multiply to infective levels during the cool down and storage of prepared foods.”

Following the interviews with store employees, and the ensuing media coverage surrounding the outbreak, local health officials were informed of a similar outbreak at the Ryder Truck Company business establishment, following a Thanksgiving holiday event also catered by the University Avenue Hi-Vee grocery store. Seventeen individuals who ate food served at the Ryder event became ill as a result of eating the turkey dinner prepared by Hi-Vee. The event showed obvious similarities with the church event in menu items, symptoms, and time of onset.

This outbreak was also investigated by the Black Hawk Health Department. Its environmental investigation concluded as follows: “The most plausible hypothesis for the Business A outbreak is that the turkey was cooked and stored at inappropriate temperature, which allowed for rapid development of Clostridium perfringens.”

Again, as with the church event outbreak, the health department concluded as follows: “This case appears to point to Clostridium perfringens as the most likely causative agent.

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More than a hundred people are still in hospital in Harbin following a mass food poisoning incident which proved fatal for a 77 year-old patient.  The incident occurred on Monday at the Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Harbin, the provincial capital.  According to Song Chunhua, deputy chief of criminal investigation at the Harbin public security bureau, the hospital cook drew water from a boiler in the corridor of the rehabilitation center early on Monday in order to prepare a rice-based porridge.  But the water was contaminated with fluoroacetamide, a product used to kill insects and rats.A total of 203 in-patients and their helpers, as well as hospital staff who ate the porridge for breakfast, fell ill. Most of them complained of nausea and diarrhea.

 

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Detroit Free Press reports that local health authorities are investigating reports that at least 30 people attending a banquet last week at Detroit’s Roostertail banquet facility got sick afterward with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the state health department confirmed Wednesday.

The reports came from a banquet for 370 people last Thursday, said Lasher.

The state Department of Agriculture, which collaborates with the state health department on food safety issues, alerted the state health department about at least 30 reported cases of food poisoning, Lasher said.

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The Saginaw News (Michigan) reports that Saginaw County's lead health official has confirmed that a gastrointestinal illness that struck a group of people in Frankenmuth stemmed from a baby shower at the Frankenmuth Credit Union.

Dr. Neill Varner, Department of Public Health medical director and acting health officer, disclosed the information today, but only after a Detroit television station reported it Thursday.

Since Channel 5, WNEM, aired the first report of the outbreak last weekend, Varner has said that the illness affected people at a private gathering and was not tied to food. He said test results today may determine what virus caused the 23 cases of the gastrointestinal illness.

About 60 people attended the baby shower Sept. 17 at the credit union, 580 N. Main, Varner said. Varner said he received one call from a couple who live and own a business in the town who have experienced symptoms that media reports described.

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The Health and Community News reports that the Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 10 women who fell sick after consuming take-away food from a restaurant in Sham Shui Po and home-made food.

The patients, aged 26 to 55, developed stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever from about five to 56 hours after having the food around noon on September 7. Their symptoms were generally mild.

Two sought medical treatment from Kwong Wah Hospital's Accident & Emergency Department and Caritas Medical Centre. Five others consulted private doctors. None required hospitalistion. Initial investigations showed bacteria could be the likely cause of the outbreak. Further investigation is in progress.

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People's Daily reports that Chinese experts warned here Sunday that foodborne diseases rather than chemical pollutants are the top menace to the food safety of Chinese consumers.

Liu Xiumei, a research fellow with the Food Safety Institute of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that foodborne disease threats were expanding in China.

In a latest food-poisoning case, eighty-seven Chinese fell ill after eating half-cooked snails in a restaurant in Beijing and were later diagnosed with a type of angiostrongyliasis, a disease caused by parasites that affects the brain and spinal cord, and can lead to meningitis, according to the Beijing Health Bureau.

Official data showed that about an annual average of 300 million people in China would contract foodborne diseases. Meat product contaminated by bacteria typhimurium has the highest morbidity; Bibrio Parahemolyticous, often contained in rotten aquatic products, was the second biggest pathogenic bacteria.

Liu said that foodborne diseases often happened to group dining, especially at cantees for students or employees, restaurants and fast food outlets. Triggers are material contamination, food deterioration, improper storage and bad processing.

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The New Haven Register reports that at least 15 people were hospitalized with nausea, cramps and vomiting Wednesday after a catered lunch at the United Illuminating Co. on Church Street.

Four other people became ill but declined to go to the hospital, said city Fire Department EMS Supervisor Abe Colon. Inside the Connecticut Financial Center, city health department officials collected samples of the food, which included pulled pork and chicken, and shipped them off to a laboratory for testing to see whether food poisoning was to blame.

Until those results comes back, said city Director of Health William P. Quinn, it's impossible to conclusively say what caused the people to get sick.

Tests could be completed as soon as today on the food and fecal samples collected at the hospitals, he said.

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The Associated Press reports that ten people visiting Cape Cod from Michigan were treated for symptoms of food poisoning on Tuesday night, Barnstable fire officials said. They are part of a group of tourists from Trenton, Mich., and are all adults, said Firefighter Stephen Iacovelli.

They were brought by ambulance from a Comfort Inn to Cape Cod Hospital around 9:30 p.m., he said. Hospital spokesman David Reilly said all were stable late Tuesday night.

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A staff at the Sarlahi district hospital at Malangawa told Nepalnews over phone that forty-seven people, most of them children, were discharged from the hospital this morning after undergoing treatment at the hospital overnight.

He said their conditions had improved and they returned to their village on a tractor.

Dozens of others, who fell sick, visited bordering town of India for treatment, according to reports.

Nearly 150 people had fallen sick after consuming contaminated food prepared on the occasion of 'Naag Panchami'--a Hindu festival--on Sunday.

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Over one hundred and fifty people have fallen ill in a food poisoning epidemic in the Tampere region, according to health officials on Monday.

The epidemic, described as exceptionally large by the Valkeakoski hospital, is suspected to originate from salad served at various staff canteens in Tampere late last week. Officials noted that no further cases have been diagnosed since Friday.

The food poisoning affected 50-80 people in Tampere, and one hundred people in Valkeakoski.

Some of those suffering from food poisoning have had violent symptoms lasting 1-3 days, but no lives have been in danger.

Samples of food served at the canteens have been sent to be examined at a laboratory. Results are expected later on Monday.

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The Associated Press reports that health officials in Oregon have issued a warning asking residents to avoid eating raw oysters after 14 people in the state fell ill over the last few days.

Those affected came down with infection caused by a bacteria directly associated with raw oyster consumption.

According to the state, symptoms of the illness include watery diarrhea, cramps, vomiting and fever. Most people recover without treatment.

A majority of the Oregon cases have been reported in people who ate raw oysters at restaurants in Portland and Medford.

One of the patients ate oysters harvested from a private site in Washington state.

According to health officials, along with the 14 Oregon cases, more than 15 people in Washington and British Columbia are also reportedly ill.

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The McClatchy-Tribune Business News reports that contaminated potato salad that made about 100 people sick in the Bowling Green area also was the likely source of a food-borne illness that affected as many as 35 more people at two other catered events, the Toledo-Lucas County health department said yesterday.

Alan Ruffell, the health department's director of environmental health, said that the same potato salad that led health inspectors to Nick & Jimmy's Bar & Grill, 4956 Monroe St., was believed to have been served at an office lunch party on June 16 and a g raduation party June 17 -- both held in Lucas County.

Those who became ill at the two Lucas County parties are in addition to the nearly 100 people sickened June 15 at a graduation party in Wood County.

The Ohio Department of Health, which is investigating the complaint, found that eight stool samples from people who ate the potato salad tested positive for Norovirus.

According to the Wood County health department, the potato salad served at the gatherings tested "fairly high for fecal coliform."

Public health officials said the potato salad was most likely contaminated when a food service employee failed to wash his or her hands after using the restroom.

Restaurant owner Nick Tokles said the Ohio Department of Health reported to him that the tests could not verify whether the virus was animal or human.

Pointing out that vegetables are often grown using manure-based fertilizers, Mr. Tokles said the problem could have been from the improper washing of carrots or celery before being added to the potato salad.

Mr. Tokles said he has been in the restaurant business most of his life, including 27 years at the Monroe Street location. He said he has catered numerous events and served the potato salad to thousands of people without problems.

Mr. Ruffell acknowledged that fecal coliform can come from any animal, but said that the Norovirus is "almost always" carried by humans. He added that the virus, which is what caused people to be sick, is easily killed by heat.

In response to the initial complaint, the Toledo-Lucas County health department inspected Nick & Jimmy's Monroe Street location on June 16 and found 35 violations, including 12 that were labeled critical. A June 27 follow-up inspection found only three vi olations, of which two were critical.

On June 28, the health department issued a public health order to "cease and desist" all catering operations because the restaurant is not a licensed caterer.

Mr. Ruffell added that the health department has "not ruled out anything as far as penalties."

Rick Biddle, an employee at CISP Inc., in Toledo, which had an office lunch party on June 16, said he was violently ill during the weekend after the catered event. He said he was sick enough to warrant a trip to the hospital where he had to be re-hydrated .

The potato salad came from the same batch served in Bowling Green the day before and at a Toledo party the day after.

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Local10.com (Florida) reports that nine contestants in the Miss Florida beauty pageant were hospitalized Tuesday evening after complaining of diarrhea and nausea.

The contestants were staying at the Hilton near Miami International Airport. Miami-Dade fire-rescue officials said the contestants might have eaten some undercooked chicken at the hotel the day before.

Two of the contestants were admitted at South Miami Hospital overnight for observation. The other seven were treated and released.

The contestants were in town for the pageant being held at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. Preliminaries were scheduled to begin Wednesday and the finals Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the pageant said the schedule would be modified to allow the affected contestants a chance to compete.

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Errol Kiong reports that a few thousand people dining in corporate comfort at the All Blacks-Ireland test at Eden Park last Saturday could have been struck down with gastroenteritis.

A week after the big match, public health officials have yet to pinpoint the exact cause for the outbreak that left at least 100 patrons who dined in four separate corporate hospitality areas reeling from a suspected norovirus infection.

"There was one kitchen from which everyone was served ... but it's likely there were a range of sources for the food," said Auckland Regional Public Health Service's Dr Julia Peters.

More than half of 200 people interviewed so far have reported illness.

Dr Peters did not know how many people could have been affected but had been told it could have been a few thousand.

Murray Reade, Eden Park Trust Board's general manager, said the board had been in "some pretty close dialogue" with its caterer, Michael O'Brien Catering.

"We're obviously deeply concerned about this issue, and Michael O'Brien Catering being our caterer certainly have come under a lot of scrutiny from the trust board over this incident."

Eden Park's caterer of 18 months is an Australian company which lists among its clients the Optus Oval Football Ground in Melbourne, the Brisbane Cricket Ground, and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Mr Reade said the trust was waiting until the public health service had finished its investigation before making any decisions.

Health officials, meanwhile, have been contacting organisations that had people at the test to advise of the outbreak and to set up interviews.

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South Korea's government today ordered dozens of schools to suspend their lunch programmes after more than 1,700 students taken ill with food poisoning.

The Education Ministry took the measure for 68 schools in Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province -- which receive lunch catering service from one company -- after 1,709 students from 25 of the schools showed food poisoning symptoms, including stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting.

One of the students was admitted to hospital, but was discharged today, said Kim Dong-ro, a ministry official.

Health authorities said they were investigating the case, but the cause was still unclear.

The company, CJ Food System, offered a public apology and said it was investigating.

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The Republican-American reports that guests who attended a Friday evening wedding reception at the Grand Oak Villa banquet facility say far more patrons came down with illnesses, some serious, than facility operators have reported.

Doreen Gagnon, whose son Brian Gagnon's reception took place at the 550 Sylvan Lake Road hall, said she has tracked 85 of the 190 guests as "coming down with something" a day or so after the event, with perhaps as many as 40 going to a hospital.

"It was a good show and they (Grand Oak) put on a good party," the mother said, adding there were no complaints about the food or service. "But it was something more than just 'a bug.' "

Catering manager Libero DiStasi confirmed Wednesday that state health officials were investigating complaints of people becoming ill after the reception, but he said it was only a few and attributed the probable cause to the flu.

A message left Thursday seeking comment from Michael DiStasi, Grand Oak's permittee, was not immediately returned.

Doreen Gagnon said she started getting reports guests were becoming ill about 24 to 36 hours after the reception, some experiencing nausea and vomiting. "Luckily my son and his wife (Stephanie Fayer) are OK," she said. "They called from Hawaii where they are honeymooning."

Cathy Allen, a guest at the Fayer-Gagnon fete, said she knew of at least three people who went to Waterbury Hospital and had to be hooked up to intravenous units.

Doreen Gagnon said she believes the state Department of Public Health has been trying to contact people who may have become ill, but is not releasing any details of its inquiry and findings. She said she was told after the investigation is concluded, results would be posted on the department's Web site.

Gil Roberts, director of environmental health for the Torrington Area Health District, which is in charge of inspecting facilities, said the district could not confirm or deny an investigation was under way. However, he said, Grand Oak had not been closed down.

Lynn Townshend, a department spokeswoman, said she could neither confirm nor deny the department was investigating complaints related to Grand Oak. Generally, when food-serving facilities are investigated, interviews with employees are conducted and food-serving practices checked, she said.

The banquet facility is on the grounds of the Cercemaggiore Community Club. The hall that was granted a special permit to operate in 1990 is among the few in the region that can accommodate up to 500 guests comfortably, and its main room can be divided in two.

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Harlan Spector of the Plain Dealer (OH) reported yesterday that health officials are investigating possible cases of food poisoning that may have sickened dozens of guests at a wedding reception Saturday at Casa di Borally, a popular banquet hall in Richmond Heights.

Seventeen probable cases were confirmed as of Thursday, "but this is still real early," said Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan. "We've got a ton of people on this."

Members of the wedding party said in interviews that close to 100 of the 300 guests became sick in the days after the reception. Several went to the hospital.

The source of the illness has not been found.

Guests dined on beef tenderloin, chicken piccata, cavatelli and antipasto hors d'oeuvres at the Chardon Road party center, which has been in business since 1963.

Frank Borally, the third-generation owner, said Thursday that the center had received only one complaint, from the mother of the bride. She reported that several guests had become ill, he said.

Borally said he had no evidence of any illness linked to the center. He said he had received no complaints from guests at Villa di Borally, a separate hall on the property that served the same menu on Saturday.

Borally said he is cooperating with health officials.

"We've got 45 years of business, and the name of the building on the line," he said. "If there's an issue, we'll fix it."

Health officials have obtained the guest list, but they said it will take time to determine the scope and cause of the outbreak. They asked anyone who suspects that they were sickened to call the health board at 216-201-2000.

The bride and groom are honeymooning in Hawaii and apparently are not ill.

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Asher Fusco of the Daily Kansan reports that when Ross Randall took his team out for dinner the night before the Big 12 Championship, he didn't expect it to cost him the majority of his starting lineup.

Four of the five Jayhawk golfers slated to compete for the Big 12 crown in Tulsa, Okla., came down with food poisoning after Sunday night's team dinner, leaving some doubt about whether the team would be able to play.

"I really didn't think we could finish the tournament, but our guys hung in there," Randall, Kansas coach, said.

All five of the Jayhawks ended up finishing the tournament, and the team placed eighth overall with a total score of 897. Kansas was the No. 11 seed coming into the tournament, but the team edged out rivals Missouri and Kansas State.

Junior Gary Woodland was the only Jayhawk left unaffected by food poisoning, and he took full advantage of his good health. He finished tied for seventh place overall in individual competition. Woodland endured a disappointing final round, but still managed to shoot only 5-over par for the entire tournament.

"I was upset that I didn't finish how I wanted, but I'm pretty happy about finishing seventh and playing some pretty solid golf," Woodland said.

Despite feeling under the weather, the rest of the Jayhawks posted solid results. Senior Pete Krsnich shot three rounds in the mid-70s to finish tied for 32nd, while junior Tyler Docking finished in a tie for 45th place.

Senior Luke Trammell, who spent much of Monday evening receiving hydration through an IV in the hospital, managed to shoot a 232 to tie for 52nd overall.

Redshirt freshman Zach Pederson got off to a good start in his first round, but posted high scores in his second and third rounds to finish 57th overall.

Oklahoma pulled away from the pack in the third round and took home the Big 12 Championship. Matthew Rosenfeld of Texas shot even par for the tournament to grab the individual title.

The resilience shown by the Kansas golfers may pay dividends when the NCAA sends out invites to the regional tournament, held May 18 to 20. In the last several weeks, the team's strong play has pushed it directly onto the edge of the postseason picture.

The Jayhawks will have to wait a few more days while the NCAA lays out the regional fields.

"We could be the last team in or one of the last teams out," Randall said. "It just depends on what the committee looks at."

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Sarah Barry of DailyProgress.com (Virgina) reports that more than 40 members and guests of Farmington Country Club came down with upset stomachs on Easter, creating a mystery officials are still trying to solve.

As of Wednesday, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Health Department had not been able to identify the cause of the illnesses, said Roy Crewz, spokesman for the Thomas Jefferson Health District. "All of our information right now is very preliminary," he said.

Two days after the club held an Easter brunch buffet, it began receiving phone calls from members and guests complaining of symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

"At that point we immediately called in the health department. They came in and they took samples of the food," said club President Victor M. Dandridge III.

"We've been working hand-in-hand with them as part of their investigation and we continue to do that."

Phil Kiester, general manager of the club, said that the buffet featured a menu of approximately 15 different items, including chicken, beef, fruits, salads and desserts.

There also is the possibility that the illnesses have nothing to do with improperly cooked or stored food. "There appears to be other sicknesses that are going around town that have similar symptoms to what people had at Farmington," Dandridge said.

At Meriwether Lewis Elementary School in Albemarle, about 6 miles from the club, both faculty and students have been absent with stomach problems.

"It did hit one of our fifth-grade classrooms pretty hard," said school Principal Sylvia Henderson, explaining that a third of the students in one classroom were absent for two days.

A "spotted group" of adults at the school has also gotten sick, Henderson said.

"I don't think of it as an epidemic because it's usually just one at a time," she said.

The health department is not eliminating any possibilities as to the cause of the illnesses. "We're casting as wide a net as possible to ensure a complete, comprehensive, exhaustive investigation," Crewz said.

The Farmington Country Club, located just off U.S. 250 west of Charlottesville, is taking no chances and has voluntarily shut down its food facilities until it has been certified safe to serve food again.

Kiester said the club has contracted with Steritech, a private food-safety auditor, to provide a protocol to completely sanitize and treat every aspect of the club's food service facility. Once the auditor has inspected the facility, it will be certified to reopen.

"The items that are of the utmost importance to us are that we have a complete and open investigation and that we give the utmost to our members and our guests," Dandridge said.

Dandridge has sent an e-mail to club members detailing the steps the club has taken to ensure diners won't get sick again. The club is also updating its Web site with information as it becomes available.

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A total of eleven infants aged less than two years old were taken to hospital in Vladivostok Saturday after being diagnosed with food poisoning.

Spokespeople for the Emergency Situations Ministry's department in the Primorsky Territory said all the infants received foods from the same baby-food distribution center.

Doctors let parents pick up two infants from hospital later in the day, but nine others remained there to be given medical treatment.

Testing of all the personnel, foods and process technologies was launched at the center.

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One girl died and 23 others were hospitalised after they consuming food at a government Sports Complex at Amarkantak, official sources said today.

Sumitra Bai (14) died due to food poisoning and 23 others were rushed to a hospital after they started vomiting and suffered from dysentry and stomach ache since last night, Additional Collector B B Shrivastava told PTI.

The food cooked at the complex mess was suspected to be contaminated, he said, adding senior officials have rushed to the spot and a probe has been initiated into the matter.

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Columbian staff writer Tom Vogt reports that about 20 people have become sick in the past few days at a Vancouver retirement center, including eight who were transported to the hospital Monday and Tuesday.

Symptoms include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Clark County health officials said Tuesday they still are investigating the cause of the outbreak at the Cascade Inn, 11613 S.E. Seventh St.

About half the inn's 180 residents are in an assisted-living wing, said Amy Haag, charge nurse at Cascade Inn; most of the cases of illness have been in that part of the building.

The dining area in that wing will remain closed "until we find out what the bug is," Haag said. "Those residents will be fed in their own rooms,"

The dining area that serves the facility's independent-living wing remains open, Haag said.

Staff members at the retirement center are observing several measures to prevent the spread of the illness, said Marni Storey, manager of the county's infectious-disease program.

"We are recommending that ill persons stay in their rooms," Storey said.

Although there are no indications that it is a food-borne illness, the kitchen was being sanitized with a bleach solution. The health department advised the retirement center's staff members to wear gloves and protective masks while taking care of ill residents, Storey said.

"Signs have been posted discouraging visitors, and advising that if you do visit, to wash your hands carefully," she said.

An illness cluster is not unusual at a retirement facility, Storey said.

"This definitely is not the first one of these" over the past few months, Storey said. "This winter, there have been several gastroenteritis outbreaks."

"This facility had an episode about a year ago," Haag, the charge nurse, said. "Every facility in Clark County has them."

The symptoms are similar to those in norovirus outbreaks that hit two local schools this fall, but Storey said the cause of the illness won't be determined until stool samples are checked by a state laboratory.

"That can take up to a week," Storey said. "It won't be definitive until then."

Storey said the first person became ill on Thursday, and "that person is improving."

Fifteen residents and six staff members have come down with the symptoms, she said.

Eight people have been transported to the hospital, the first at 6:30 a.m. Monday, said Jim Flaherty, Vancouver Fire Department firefighter and spokesman.

"You see senior citizens with these types of symptoms, and they get into dehydration pretty quickly," Flaherty said. "And if they're on medications, or have other medical issues, dehydration can exacerbate those problems."

Storey said the health department will continue to monitor the outbreak until two days pass without new reports of illness.

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Eyewitness News 12 - WPRI (RI) reports that the state health department is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.

The health department says a number of people became sick after attending a Father and Daughter dance at the Bocce Club in Woonsocket on Friday. The Cumberland Hill Elementary School sponsored the dance.

The health department says people who attended and have been feeling ill should get medical care immediately.

It also says that people suffering from the symptoms -- which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever -- should stay home if they work in health care, child care or restaurants.

The health department has not yet identified the bacteria or virus causing the symptoms.

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Seven people died today and 18 others took ill in two incidents of food poisoning in Uttar Pradesh.

A report from Balrampur district said four children died this morning and 16 others took ill after consuming contaminated mutton in village Mohammadnagar Grant under Rehra area last night.

The deceased were identified as Neetu (8), Kiran (8), Sanjay (4) and Anish Kumar (6).

In another incident in Fatehpur district, three of a family -- Prema Devi (20), Rinki (8) and Renu (6) -- succumbed to death in Rampur Tilhi village of Hussainganj area after consuming poisonous food. Two others of the family also took ill.

Reports claimed a lizard had fallen into the food before it was consumed by the victims.

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A celebration turned into tragedy at a slum in Borivli late on Monday when several hutment dwellers consumed meals after a religious function and fell ill. Nine of the victims were later rushed to Borivli's Bhagwati Hospital with symptoms of food poisoning.

The slum dwellers living along IC Colony in Ganpathpatil Nagar had come together to celebrate a 'Satyanarayan Puja', which was followed by a 'prasad' of puri-bhaji and sweet boondi for nearly 300 residents.

But around midnight children began complaining of nausea, which was followed by bouts of vomiting and loose motions. "When we headed home after the function was over, Deepak started vomiting continuously," said Mundrika Jha, the mother of the five-year-old. He was admitted to Bhagwati Hospital's general ward and put on a glucose drip.

Three-year-old Binita Jha, who has also been admitted to the same hospital, too had the same complaint. Residents estimate that nearly 20 residents complained of uneasiness after the meal.

But, according to hospital authorities, nine residents were brought in from the same locality, in what they suspect is a case of food poisoning. "The patients are on glucose drips and will be kept in the hospital for 24 hours before they are discharged," said medical superintendent of Bhagwati Hospital, Dr M Wadiwala.

The BMC ward office which was alerted by hospital authorities investigated the incident on Monday. "Most complaints of food poisoning come from mava or mithai, but since the food that they had was home-cooked, it is difficult to say from where they got the infection," said N V Pai, assistant commissioner of BMC's Dahisar ward.

The police said the food was cooked in the house of Narendra Jha, who also lives in the same locality.

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The Windsor Star reports that the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Ontario, is, according to this story, investigating after employees of a Lakeshore factory became severely ill after eating food brought into the plant from a Tecumseh restaurant.

So far, 44 people became sick after eating the food on Sept. 30, medical officer of health Dr. Allen Heimann said Thursday. He would not identify the restaurant.

Bill MacDonald, director of human resources for Shukra North America, said employees on the day and afternoon shifts ordered in the food which he described as "a chicken meal."

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Fifteen people aged 14 to 40 have come down with food poisoning after eating at a Kwun Tong restaurant September 15 to 19.

The nine men and six women suffered diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting three to 15 hours after eating there. None required hospitalization and all are stable.

The Centre for Health Protection said bacterial contamination was the likely cause.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today ordered the temporary closure of King Fok Palace Korean and Japanese Restaurant at Hong Ning Road, Kwun Tong for thorough cleansing and disinfection following a cluster of food poisoning outbreaks.

The restaurant can only be re-opened when the department is satisfied that the immediate health hazard on the premises has been eliminated.

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An investigation has been launched into what caused 30 crewmen to be struck down with suspected food poisoning off the Western Isles, health officials have said.

Six men were in hospital on the Isle of Lewis while another 24 were being treated on board the Yeoman Bridge cargo ship after a doctor was flown to the vessel.

A spokesman for NHS Western Isles said that the crew, who are thought to be Ukrainian, had all eaten salmon, although it had not yet been confirmed that this was responsible for their illness.

He added that a major incident response team had been set up and would meet later today to hear reports from public health specialists.

The six crew were taken from their 50,000 tonne vessel by RNLI lifeboat to Lewis yesterday morning, after radioing coastguards for help.

They were then transferred by ambulance to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, where their condition was described as stable.

The Yeoman Bridge anchored close to Stornoway Harbour and last night a doctor and police officer were winched by helicopter to the vessel following reports that more crew were becoming ill.

Extra medical supplies were also flown to the ship after it was decided the remaining crew did not need to be hospitalised.

The Yeoman Bridge, which is a Bahamas-registered boat, had been travelling from Hamburg in Germany and was on its way to Glensanda on the Scottish mainland when the crew took ill.

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AFP Honk Kong reports that Hong Kong hygiene officials are considering legal action against the Disney company over a row that erupted following the discovery of three cases of food poisoning at its soon-to-be opened Disneyland resort, officials said on Saturday.

Director of food hygiene Leung Wing-lap said his department was seeking legal advice after it emerged inspectors were asked to remove their uniforms and badges so as not to frighten customers when they went to probe allegations of food contamination at the resort, which is due to open Monday.

The government confirmed that three cases of food poisoning were reported from two of the parks restaurants.

It is the latest setback at the three billion US dollar park in the southern Chinese territory, following rows with green groups over the resorts impact on the local environment and amid complaints from customers that staff were rude and there were too few rides during rehearsal days.

A Disney spokesman told reporters the company had apologised for asking officials to remove their uniforms, and promised to comply with local laws in future.

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The Associated Press reports that according to Iraq Police, over a hundred Iraqi soldiers have been hospitalized after getting sick at their base in northern Iraq. Hospital officials say the troops are suffering from fever, vomiting and stomach pain.

The base is in Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein.

A police official says they are investigating the source of the food poisoning.

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The Canadian Press reports that approximately 100 guests took ill after a wedding over the weekend in the central Serbian town of Kragujevac, a local health official said. The clinic for infectious diseases in the town 90 kilometres southeast of the capital, Belgrade, treated about 100 patients for food poisoning symptoms, clinic specialist Ljiljana Nesic said.

The patients had all attended a wedding ceremony and a banquet at the town's most popular hotel, Nesic said, recounting how many described eating an appetizer with a "weird colour" and consuming the popular Serbian cheese "kajmak," which "appeared to have melted" in the heat.

Within hours the wedding guests took ill and reported to the clinic with complaints that included high fever, diarrhea and vomiting. Six of the patients were hospitalized while the rest were released after treatment.

The bride and groom were not reported among those treated.

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WBIR.com reports that at least 24 people in Knoxville who attended the children's charity "Ribs, Rides 'N' Rock" fundraiser have been treated at area hospitals for food poisoning.

Health Department officials are investigating how food at the event became contaminated. They say it's possible an out-of-town vendor or a local grocer is the source, but declined to name them.

Food samples are being sent to the state lab to determine the exact cause of the illness, and people who ate the food and became ill are encouraged to contact their local health department to report their symptoms.

Most of the people treated ate between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and started getting sick about two hours later.

A Knoxville Fire Department official notified the health department that participants had come to the paramedic unit at the event with symptoms.

Health officials are transporting the suspected pork, chicken, baked beans and coleslaw to a state lab today.

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