14 fall ill after Faerieworlds Festival.Byline: Matt Cooper Matt Cooper may refer to:
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 vomiting, ejection of food and other matter from the stomach through the mouth, often preceded by nausea. The process is initiated by stimulation of the vomiting center of the brain by nerve impulses from the gastrointestinal tract or other part of the body. . 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 contagious /con·ta·gious/ (-jus) capable of being transmitted from one individual to another, as a contagious disease; communicable. con·ta·gious adj. 1. Of or relating to contagion. - 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 win·er·y n. pl. win·er·ies An establishment at which wine is made. Noun 1. winery - distillery where wine is made wine maker 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. Symptoms may include the sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. Those stricken with diarrhea and vomiting should drink fluids to stay hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous . For prevention, officials encourage frequent hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom or changing a diaper and before preparing and eating food. A bleach bleach Solid or liquid chemical compound used to whiten or remove the natural colour of fibres, yarns, paper, and textile fabrics. Sunlight was the chief bleaching agent up to the discovery of chlorine in 1774 by Karl Wilhelm Scheele (b. 1742—d. solution - 1 2/3 cup bleach to one gallon of water - should be used to clean contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. surfaces. If you suspect you may have contracted the illness, call the county at 682-3731. For care, call your doctor. Festivalgoers from 42 states and six countries bought tickets to the two-day Faerieworlds event. The festival has been held somewhere in the West for five of the last six years, including past year in Lane County. |
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