Some were taken for treatment by ambulance and others were taken by private vehicles to area hospitals. The city-owned complex was shut down so air and water tests could be performed.
Carol Austerberry of the Wayne County Health Department said yesterday afternoon that about 80 reports have come in of people suffering gastrointestinal problems that include diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramping. The number might grow as reports continue to come in.
County workers are contacting health care officials to collect stool samples for the investigation, to be sent to a state lab for testing. Surveys also will be sent to the people who attended the hockey tournament.
Fire Chief Robert Tompos said water samples were shipped to an independent lab in Monroe for testing and came back clean, ruling out contamination.
Tompos said people got sick simultaneously, causing several players to vomit on benches and in locker rooms.
Tompos said some hockey players share equipment and water bottles, which could be considered mini-petri dishes.
Austerberry said good prevention starts with parents.
“If your child is sick, don’t let them go to school,” she said. “Don’t let them participate in sports where they are around a lot of people.”
Fortunately, Dale's in Germany so I don’t have to listen to how awesome Pittsburgh is and how he’s followed them since he was a kid.
Me, I was crushed when Pittsburgh beat out Carolina in 4 straight games in the semis.
But I’ve gotten over it to host game 7 of the National Hockey League finals Friday night. Seriously, in Manhattan, KS, and with Dale in Germany, Amy and I are hockey central.
And Amy once again wants Detroit to win. Zetterberg is her hero.
Game starts at 7, we got the big screen, the HDTV, the food, the beer, and the hockey know-how – watch me explain again to Bob what offside is – and where would you rather be?
You’re all invited. Even you public health students I talked with this morning. I’ll show you how to properly cook a decent hamburger using a digital, tip-sensitive thermometer. Let’s see if you really read barfblog.com.
Posted: February 12th, 2008 - 6:34pm
by Doug Powell
The Detroit News reports that Pistons guard Rip Hamilton missed Tuesday's morning shoot-around at Philips Arena due to a gastrointestinal illness believed to be food poisoning.
Hamilton is in Atlanta, and the Pistons will re-evaluate his condition before today's 7 p.m. game against the Hawks.