In a statement Monday, between November 25-26, Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch received eight patients with probable food borne symptoms.
According to Clayton Warren, Communications Manager, three patients have died, four patients were treated and released and one patient remains hospitalized.
Contra Costa Public Health is investigating the cause and do not believe there is any risk to the general public, however, no further statement was readily available.
During Thanksgiving, Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood hosted dinner at the American Legion Hall.
8:00 pm Update – Press Conference with County Health Service
The press conference occurred at 5:00 pm Monday
- Louis McNitt, Communications Officer, County Health Services
- Dr. Marilyn Underwood, Director of Environmental Health of County Health Services
According to McNitt, right now, it’s unclear what the cause of illness may be and whether it is related to the November 24 event or not. We are working with our Environmental Health Division whether this is an outbreak of Food Borne Illness. Environmental Services followed up with the group that held this Thanksgiving Day event. 835 people attended on that day.
Sutter Delta reports receiving 8-patients that day related to this incident. All the patients are associated with the same living facility so it unclear if the illness is related to the Thanksgiving Day event or their living situation. We have not received any other reports from health care facilities related to this incident. At this point we do not believe there is any risk to the general public.
During the press conference, the name of the living facility was not provided.
According to Dr. Marilyn Underwood with Contra Costa Health Services, the non-profit group that held the event was the Golden Hills Community Church and have been sponsoring this for many years.
“I spoke with them regarding the type of event they had and it does not need to be permitted by our environmental health. They were using a permitted facility which is the Veterans Hall (American Legion),” said Underwood. “When we spoke with them regarding food safety techniques, they all sounded very appropriate.”
Underwood stated the meal served was a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner meal where 835 people were fed that day. So far 8 reported illness from same living facility.
“We don’t consider it a food borne illness unless we have people getting sick from different locations,” said Underwood. “If we have a family that all get sick from eating somewhere. We will not call that an outbreak unless we also have some else getting sick who doesn’t live with them. It could have been they got sick from food they prepared at their living facility and not at the Thanksgiving Day event… we are still investigating and will take some time to figure this out.”
Underwood also said at this point, they had no reason to conclude it was the food at the event.
McNitt stated the symptoms included nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She also did not indicate what food borne illness was the cause and said it could be something 5-hours to a week and currently testing people who are ill to find the “cause” agent.
McNitt says that some people who live at the care facility and also attended the Thanksgiving Day event are alright health wise.
The county is also looking for people who did not self-report an illness while also interviewing those who were ill to try and find a common agent. They have also only received reports from Sutter Delta regarding the illness.
Underwood stated that some of the food was donated from food facilities and restaurants/retail markets, others are donated by volunteers. Most of the other items are prepared on site—mashed potatoes, stuffing, heat up green beans. She highlighted it’s a commercial grade facility.
“If there was something that shows we would need to shut down a facility, we would. We don’t feel like we need to do that,” said Underwood. “At this point the information we have did not lead us to the conclusion that we are concerned about the facility.”
She noted the information they have on the type of organism it might be, but said unfortunately she could not elaborate further.
“We know some things what it’s not,” said Underwood.
Underwood anticipates an investigation could take 7-to-10 days to complete or longer.
9:00 pm Update: Official Statement from Golden Hills Community Church
We recently were informed that several people from the same care facility in Antioch, who were at our Antioch Thanksgiving Dinner, became sick and it is reported that 3 of them have died. County Health officials have informed us that the source of the illness is not known and could have come from any of a number of sources. Our dinner in Antioch is only one of a number of possibilities that County Health is investigating. We are fully cooperating with health officials and are praying fervently for the families who lost loved ones and for others who are sick. We will try to post updates from County Health as we are made aware. Source
8 comments
How sad and scary. Food that wasn’t kept hot or cold?
They are not even sure it is food borne illness related. And they were all from the same care facility. So improper handling of food or an illness that is common in adult care facilities might actually be the cause. It might also not be the handling of the food by the church it could just be tainted produce or food. We have seen A LOT of listeria and E-coli outbreaks lately from manufacturing plants and farms. It should not be assumed the church until proven otherwise. Too many factors here.
I just saw on Channel 2 news that all 8 people were seniors living at the same senior home. I’d say this is more likely related to something that happened at the senior home, not a free Thanksgiving meal provided by a church at the legion hall. If it happened at the hall, more people – if not all, would be sick or dead.
Why would it be more people if it happened at the hall?
Because if 835 people ate there, and only 8 were affected – but yet these 8 people seniors all live at the same senior living home, maybe it didn’t happen at the Legion Hall. It could’ve, but it could’ve happened at the senior living facility too. Time will tell.
No matter how it happened it is very sad. Bless all their families.
I wish there was a basic ‘food safety for volunteers’ certificate that could be taught as a free two hour class at churches & community centers & such. (Perhaps there is and I’m just not aware of it.)
Working for a catering company has shown me how few people actually know the rules, and how often people don’t follow food safety rules because they don’t know there’s anything there they should know. Before I started doing catering that included me, and I was a good & experienced home cook already.
Regardless of the cause, it’s a tragedy, doubly so on Thanksgiving, and my heart goes out to everyone involved.
THE WORST!!
Civilians serving the needy in this situation- felonies, fines, jail time
Church in this case- tax ememption, “prayer” apology
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