Three people have died and five more are in hospital after they were poisoned by Thanksgiving meal served by church at an American Legion center in California
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Three military veterans died after eating a Thanksgiving meal at a Californian American Legion Center as five other people were hospitalized between Friday and Saturday as health chiefs attempt to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, said they received eight patients with ‘probable food-borne symptoms’. Three patients died, four have been released and one remains under medical care.
Dr Louise McNitt, deputy health officer for Contra Costa County said: ‘We do not believe there is any risk to the general public.’
All eight lived at the same assisted living facility and ate a free Thanksgiving dinner at the American Legion Hall in Antioch along with other residents and staff members who did not get sick, McNitt said.
The traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, mash potatoes, stuffing, green beans, bread and pies was served by the Golden Hills Community Church, which has held the event for several years, said Dr. Marilyn Underwood, environmental health director for Contra Costa Health Services.
McNitt said that no other reports of illness related to the dinner have been received and that officials were trying to determine if there were other people who got sick but didn’t seek medical care.
McNitt and Underwood declined to provide the name of the living facility or any details about the eight patients citing patient privacy concerns.
Contra Costa County coroner’s officials said they could not release the names of those who died pending notification of next of kin.
