Contra Costa Health Services in California is investigating a food poisoning outbreak that occurred after Thanksgiving dinner at the Antioch American Legion auditorium, which is at 403 West Sixth Street in Antioch. At least 16 people are sick, and three people have died.
Eight cases of possible foodborne illness, including the three deaths, were reported to public heath officials on November 25, 2016 by the Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch. All of those patients ate food at the holiday event. At least 800 people attended the dinner.
Officials weren’t certain that this was actually a food poisoning outbreak because of the low numbers of those sickened compared to the number of people who ate the dinner, but yesterday, Health Services discovered eight more people who were “likely” sickened by food or drink from the same event. None of those people are hospitalized.
The food was provided by a church and some volunteers. The food was prepared offsite and at the facility. Some of the food was prepared in private homes. And some of it may have been donated by area restaurants.
The symptoms of those sickened included nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The pathogen responsible for these illnesses has not yet been named. Testing is being conducted on biological samples taken from patients, and officials are investigating. Tests could take as long as a week.
If you or anyone you know ate food from that Thanksgiving Day event and has been sick with the symptoms of food poisoning, see your doctor. Officials are asking that anyone else who may have been sickened to contact them to help solve this outbreak. If you attended the event but have not been sick, and have food or drink from that event, immediately throw it away.