Police officers stricken with nausea at G-8 site

CALGARY, Alberta -- Dozens of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers working at the site of this week's G-8 summit became nauseous early Monday, and three were taken to a Calgary hospital.

Const. Rob Dunnett of the RCMP said the officers at Nakiska camp, inside the security zone established at the Kananaskis resort where the summit begins Wednesday, "fell ill with symptoms commonly associated with food poisoning" during the night.

He said approximately 30 were treated at Nakiska camp. RCMP Const. Charlene Lewis said only three officers were hospitalized, and one had been released while the other two were being treated for dehydration.

The cause of the outbreak was unknown, Dunnett said.

Doug Fraser, a spokesman for the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, about 55 miles east of Kananaskis, said those admitted suffered from nausea and vomiting.

Thousands of police and soldiers are based in the Kananaskis area for the two-day summit of leaders of the world's industrial powers, including President Bush.

The security forces have closed off the mountain resort, which is accessible by only one paved road.

Vehicles entering the resort are searched at a series of roadblocks and then escorted by police.