Illness outbreak likely linked to P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival, says CPHO

P.E.I. health officials are investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that appears to be linked to a popular fall festival.

Around 50 people who attended the P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown over the weekend have reported symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said at least one person went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department for treatmentbut was not admitted. Two other people with symptoms werelater treated byIsland EMSbut were not taken to hospital, she said.

The CPHO is advising anyone who has symptoms to fill out an online food questionnaire in an effort to help track the extent of the outbreak and determine the cause.

P.E.I. health officials looking for cause of GI illness outbreak

4 days ago

Duration 6:10

CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin speaks with Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison about the possible link between the P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival and an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, what's being done, and what you should do if you have symptoms.

"If there is a gastrointestinal illness outbreak, it can be related to food, and that's why that food questionnaire is really important," Morrison said.

"There are different .. viruses or bacteria that can either be on food or in certain foods or even on the surfaces, but they also can be transmitted by people not washing their hands, etc."

Organizers said 3,200 people attended the shellfish festival on Saturday alone.

People who attended the festival are being contacted directly.

Morrison said the Chief Public Health Office has contacted the QEH and other health-care staff to remind them to take stool samples from anyone who presents with symptoms.

Morrison said it's not yet clear what the illness is, but determining the cause of the outbreak will help organizers prevent further illness at future events.

"Sometimes we aren't able to identify an actual bacteria or virus, but we do our best to do that," Morrison said.

"By looking at the data that we have from individuals, we can narrow down what foods they consumed that were similar or not, and if there's any other factors that link people."