Health officials studying church picnic as salmonella outbreak hits 50

Authorities are investigating a possible connection between an ongoing salmonella outbreak and a recent church picnic as the number of confirmed sick in Perry County has risen to 50.

Sheila Hahs, Perry County Health Department communicable-disease coordinator, said Friday no cause has been determined.

Hahs said the department continues to work with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which has begun distributing a survey seeking in-depth information about the behavior of individuals who attended the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary Picnic Aug. 3, 4 and 5.

The introduction to the 45-question online survey, titled �Church Picnic Salmonella Outbreak 2018,� states at least some of the reported ill attended the picnic. The survey asks participants to detail any symptoms, treatments, whether they brought or prepared food at the picnic and which foods, if any, they consumed while there.

Hahs said the survey is a starting point, after which representatives from the Perry County Health Department will conduct individual follow-up interviews with people who were sickened.

Karen Clifton, Perry County Health Department environmental public health specialist, said the data-gathering process will take time.

�According to [DHSS], there�s just a lot of data that they have to review, so they�re just putting all of that together at this time,� she said. �It�s a very timely process. It�s very specific.�

Megan Hopkins, chief of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Public Information, said in an email Friday the survey focused on the picnic is �the only online survey used for this particular investigation.�

�Online surveys are used when a large number of individuals may have had the exposure of concern, as occurred in this instance,� Hopkins wrote.

She reiterated a cause has not been determined, but did not provide any other specific possible sources of the outbreak.

�It should be noted that sometimes outbreak investigations have inconclusive findings, meaning a likely source cannot be identified,� she wrote.

Clifton urged all residents to help curtail the possible spread of infection by doubling down on basic hygiene practices.

�Wash [your] hands as much as possible,� she said. �[We urge people] if they are ill but have not been to the doctor and have the symptoms of salmonella to seek further [medical] advice.�

Hahs also emphasized the importance of hand-washing around food.

�That�s one way that it can be spread,� she said. �We�re just encouraging people who are symptomatic, please do not be cooking for anyone.�

tgraef@semissourian.com

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