According to the Contra Costa County Health Services, new cases have been reported that are related to a foodborne illness outbreak at the Antioch American Legion Thanksgiving dinner. A news conference about this outbreak was held November 29, 2016.
Earlier reports stated that eight cases of possible foodborne illness were connected to that dinner. Three of those people have died. These illnesses and deaths were reported to Public Health on November 25 by Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, California. All of those people ate food from the holiday event at the American Legion Hall.
Now the department is investigating an additional eight people who were likely sickened by food or drink consumed at the same event. None of those people were hospitalized. News reports state that the age range of patients is from 13 to 70.
Public health officials are collecting biological samples from the cases for testing at county and state public health laboratories.
Officials are asking that anyone who who ate food from the Thanksgiving Day event at the facility, which is located at 403 West Sixth Street in Antioch, and has been ill, immediately contact their medical provider. If you have food or drink from the event, immediately throw it away.
The symptoms of food poisoning typically include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most people who contract food poisoning recover on their own without medical treatment, but some, especially those who are elderly, the very young, and people with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions, can become seriously ill.
