To help the restaurant from taking a big hit, the Eastern Shore Health Department director proclaimed the restaurant was fine, and demonstrated that fact by making a stop at the eatery and having lunch. He pointed out a fact we know well, that restaurants can run into problems when they do these temporary events.
10 WAVY.com
http://wavy.com/2017/10/24/officials-180-reports-of-illness-following-chincoteague-event/
Officials: 180 reports of illness following Chincoteague event
By Kevin Green
Published: October 24, 2017, 4:04 pm | Updated: October 24, 2017, 4:06 pm
CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (WAVY) — Health officials in Accomack County say they have received 180 reports of illness following a recent event in Chincoteague.
An investigation was launched earlier this month into a cluster of gastro-intestinal illnesses that were believed to be related to the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook Off held Sept. 30.
A lab in Richmond first identified Salmonella javiana in samples from event attendees, health officials say.
Salmonella was later identified in a sample of Crab Shack Clam Chowder that was obtained from someone who was served during the event.
Health officials collected 500 responses in 18 days from people who were ill and not ill from the event. An online survey has now closed.
Half of the 180 people who did report ill sought medical care, while 36 went to the emergency room. Another 18 reported being hospitalized for one or more nights.
The number of reported illnesses is preliminary and could change, officials say. An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.
More information about Salmonella can be found at this link.
VA Dept of Health
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/news-releases/2017-regional-news-releases/eastern-shore-health-officials-report-results-from-the-chincoteague-chili-chowder-cook-off-salmonella-investigation/
Eastern Shore Health Officials Report Results from the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook Off Salmonella Investigation.
October 24, 2017
•For More Information, Contact Eastern Region
Public Information Officer Larry Hill: 757-683-9175
(Accomac, Va.) –The Accomack County Health Department and the Foodborne Disease Epidemiology Team from the Virginia Department of Health continue to investigate a Salmonella outbreak following the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook Off held Saturday, September. 30, 2017. The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) in Richmond, Virginia, first identified Salmonella javiana in human specimens that were submitted by healthcare providers and health officials from event attendees who reported gastro-intestinal illness. Now, DCLS has identified Salmonella javiana in a sample of Crab Shack Clam Chowder that was obtained from an attendee served during the event, consistent with the exposure results of the online attendee survey. Approximately 500 survey responses, from both ill and non-ill attendees, were recorded in 18 days.
Accomack County health officials are addressing issues that may have contributed to the outbreak by engaging event sponsors and vendors. The laboratory analysis continues, as does analysis of the survey results. A final Epidemiologic Field Report will be drafted locally within 30 days and be available then to interested parties. Health officials will continue to assemble reports from Virginia and as many as nine other states where event attendees reside. However, the online attendee survey tool has been closed.
The following information is provisional and subject to change: The Accomack County Health Department has received 180 reports of illness to date. Approximately half (50%) of those reported ill sought medical care, with 20% (36) receiving Emergency Room care and 10% (18) having been hospitalized for one or more nights. No deaths have been reported with this outbreak.
Health officials would like to acknowledge the event sponsor, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and its event coordinator, as well as all of the food vendors who participated in the event, for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation.
Additionally, local healthcare partners from Eastern Shore Rural Health and Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, regional healthcare partners at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Your Docs In of Pocomoke, Atlantic General Hospital, Worcester County Health Department, Wicomico County Health Department, Maryland State Laboratory and many others from other states have assisted greatly in the epidemiological investigation and specimen collection.
USA Today
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/10/26/eastern-shore-eatery-salmonella-free-inspector-declares-after-lunch/805216001/
Eastern Shore eatery salmonella free, inspector declares after lunch
CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — Dr. David Matson made it clear Thursday.
"The risk is gone," said the Eastern Shore Health District director.
Matson traveled from the health department in Accomac about 45 minutes north to Chincoteague on Thursday to eat lunch.
It was more than a mere lunch. The meal at the Crab Shack on Maddox Boulevard was Matson's statement to the public — an endorsement, if you will — that the restaurant's award-winning clam chowder is safe.
It was also tasty — a lightly creamy, savory broth chock full of clams, along with potatoes, celery and carrots, with a hint of bacon, he said.
The health department on Monday identified the site as the source of a salmonella outbreak that occurred after the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook Off in late September.
"The risk of illness was only one day, one place, one group, one thing," Matson said, by way of explaining the technical terminology, "point-source outbreak," used by epidemiologists.
The establishment was identified in a news release Tuesday from the health district because there were additional ones also serving chowder at the event.
About 180 people reported becoming ill after the event. Around half of those sought medical care, with 20 percent receiving emergency room care — 10 percent were hospitalized for one or more nights. No deaths were reported.
It was the first time in memory a food poisoning outbreak has resulted from a temporary food event on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Matson said, adding that Keith Privett, a 35-year Eastern Shore Health District employee, could not recall anything similar.
"So, this is rare, it's unfortunate and it was one time," Matson said.
He thought the way to reassure the public there is no lingering effect from the incident was to go eat the implicated item.
"The easiest thing to do is go to the place that we linked to the illness that was reported to us and eat the same thing," he said, digging into a steaming bowl of chowder.
The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services in Richmond, Virginia, first identified Salmonella javiana in samples submitted by health care providers and health officials from event attendees who reported gastro-intestinal illness.
Tuesday, the agency identified the same strain in a sample of clam chowder obtained from an attendee served during the event, according to a news release.
About 500 survey responses, from both ill and non-ill attendees, were recorded in 18 days.
The other message Matson wanted to convey this day was, "there is a huge number of temporary events on the Eastern Shore of Virginia every year, and it's almost hard to find anyone who has a memory" of any food-borne illness incidents linked to them.
"It's to the credit of the many, many, many food preparers of the Shore that incidents of this kind are beyond the ability of people to remember. When was the last one?" Matson said.
The health department is giving recommendations for the future to both the event coordinator and the restaurant that served the chowder, he said, adding, "Those recommendations will be for all of the participants."
Read more - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/10/26/eastern-shore-eatery-salmonella-free-inspector-declares-after-lunch/805216001/
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