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Politics

30 sick after county meeting

Officials suspect a virus made a number of officials and spectators of the Jan. 19 workshop have a rather rough weekend.

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published January 26, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Politics make you sick? You're not alone.

More than 30 people fell ill after a Hernando County Commission workshop meeting Jan. 19. The Health Department is investigating.

The stricken included at least 10 county department heads, two county commissioners, a Planning and Zoning commissioner, several county employees, a handful of spectators and Rusty, the 5-year-old black Labrador and beloved companion of Commission Chairman Jeff Stabins, who thoughtfully brought his pet some leftovers.

"I think they want to get rid of me," said Angelo Oliva, a frequent complainant at County Commission meetings. Oliva, 79, said Thursday that he hadn't been able to eat solid food for days.

Stabins - along with Rusty - has fully recovered.

Al Gray, environmental manager for the County Health Department, suspects a norovirus, a highly contagious "stomach flu" that has gained notoriety after several high-profile outbreaks aboard cruise ships. The virus can live for hours on hands, food and surfaces including railings, tables, doorknobs and faucets.

More than 50 people attended the meeting Jan. 19, held at the Hernando County Utilities Administration Building.

The county provided snacks and lunch for the public. The repast included packaged pastries from Wal-Mart, fruit salad from Publix, and 55 box lunches from Mallie Kylas Cafe in Brooksville, said Alice Gura, who is the county administration office manager and also got sick.

Gray said he's working with a regional "disease detective" from the State Department of Health and the Office of Business and Professional Regulation to try to find the cause.

Larie DeWitt Hensley, owner of Mallie Kylas, said, "I'm obviously very concerned."

Hensley sent 55 box lunches that included a cookie, chips, vegetarian pasta salad, and "Gobbler" sandwiches: turkey served on a croissant with mayonnaise, cucumber, lettuce and cranberry sauce. Hensley said she served 150 lunch customers, and 50 to-go orders Friday, including the "Gobbler" and the pasta salad. She had no other complaints.

In fact, several people who ate the Mallie Kylas lunch did not get sick, including County Administrator Gary Kuhl, County Attorney Garth Coller, and Commissioners Rose Rocco and Diane Rowden. Commissioner Dave Russell, a vegetarian, did not eat the lunch or get sick.

"The reason I didn't get sick is because I ate airplane food for 32 years," said Rowden, a retired flight attendant.

Gray emphasized that noroviruses are not bacteria that breed in food. It's a virus that can be transmitted with a handshake, by eating contaminated food, or by touching a contaminated surface and then putting hand to mouth.

Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, fever, chills, body aches and stomach cramping, usually lasting one or two days. Severity and symptoms vary widely among those infected.

Most people recover fully without a doctor's care, although the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems may need to be treated for dehydration.

Because of privacy restrictions, Gray couldn't release the names of the sick. But interviews with recovering staffers numbered more than 30 people. Gray said he's tallied only 25 but is still investigating. Those who think they have been made ill should call the county Health Department.

Most reported falling ill late Saturday or early Sunday. Several staffers missed work Monday, and some stayed home Tuesday as well, said Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings, who also contracted the illness.

Grant Tolbert, head of the county Development Department, called the Health Department Tuesday afternoon to report the outbreak. He spent the weekend extremely ill and returned to work to find his colleagues in similar condition.

The roster of ailing staffers included Commissioner Chris Kingsley, Public Works director Charles Mixson, political gadfly Janey Baldwin, county engineer Gregg Sutton and others.

Barbara Dupre, director of human resources, said the illness struck her Sunday morning while she was on the golf course. Known locally as a committed golfer, Dupre finished her round.

"But I have to say, it wasn't one of my better rounds of golf," she said sadly.

She came in last.

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (352)754-6127.

Fast Facts:

What happened?

More than 30 people fell ill with a "stomach flu" after the Jan. 19 Hernando County Commission workshop. What made them sick?

Health officials are still investigating but suspect a norovirus. It is not actually related to influenza, although many people call it a "stomach flu." It can live on surfaces for hours and be transmitted by a handshake, eating contaminated food, or touching a contaminated surface and then putting hand to mouth.

What are the symptoms?

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, body aches and stomach cramps, typically lasting one to two days, although symptoms and severity can vary widely. Symptoms typically begin 24 to 48 hours after exposure.

Is it preventable?

Anyone can catch it, and it is considered very contagious. Both stool and vomit are contagious, and it can be transmitted from contaminated clothes, cleaning items or surfaces. Wash surfaces with a bleach-based cleanser, and cloth with hot water and soap. Frequent and thorough hand-washing is the best guard, especially if caring for someone who has a norovirus. Those infected should not handle food for three days after they recover. Anyone with symptoms of a norovirus who feels they might have been exposed is asked to call Al Gray at the County Health Department at 540-6802. Information provided is kept confidential.

[Last modified January 26, 2007, 06:34:09]