A gastrointestinal disease outbreak in Illinois has affected approximately 70 people to date. Early investigations speculate a link to the apple cider sold at the Pike County Color Drive, a recently held fall festival in Pike County, Illinois on Oct. 17 and 18.
There is still no confirmation regarding the speculated link to the apple cider sold during the event but health officials have advised consumers who might have purchased the beverage during the event to see their doctor and check for potential cryptosporidium and E. coli. Cases of nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea were reported after the event. Many festival attendees have been hospitalized.
Symptoms to watch out for include abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea which could contain blood. While the illness could last just a couple of days, these symptoms could last at least two weeks.
People with weakened immune system normally suffer from the gastrointestinal disease much longer compared to people with healthy immune systems. Toddlers, pregnant women and the elderly are more at risk due to destabilized immune systems. As symptoms can reoccur, people are encouraged to see their doctors immediately if they think they might have been compromised, especially if they are experiencing the symptoms.
"Contact your local health department so that the cider can be tested," said Adams County Health Department's Shay Drummond who urged consumers not to drink the jugs of apple cider (fresh and frozen) they bought at the fall festival. Jon Campos, Health Department Communicable Disease Coordinator of Adams County, said that if speculations are true and the outbreak is traced to apple cider, the water used to make the cider might have been contaminated.
The Illinois Department of Public Health and Adams and Pike counties are working on a joint investigation. Samples were sent to Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Illinois health department. The test will reveal the exact germ and food source causing the illness. While the exact type of germ is still being confirmed, health officials are looking into possible Cryptosporidium and E. Coli.
