The Register-Guard reports that health officials said Wednesday that they are investigating an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness linked to last weekend’s Faerieworlds Festival in Veneta, after several reports of acute diarrhea and vomiting.
At least 14 people notified Lane County Public Health of illness, and festival organizers are cooperating to stop the unidentified bug from spreading, officials said.
All 14 are in varying stages of recovery, and the illness – while extremely contagious – probably isn’t lethal, officials said.
Among the victims, “the only thing that was common was they were all at the festival over the weekend,” said Jeff Lang, county environmental health supervisor. The festival drew thousands of costumed participants to Secret House Winery on Saturday and Sunday.

Officials haven’t identified the illness or what caused the outbreak. Lang stressed that the festival may not be the source. It’s possible that a patron brought the bug in, he said.
Food vendors were inspected Saturday, and any concerns were easily resolved, Lang said.
County officials are working with the state to identify the source, and lab samples will be sent to the Oregon state Public Health Laboratory for testing, said Betsy Meredith of the county department.