August 11, 2005
KMTR News Source 16 (Oregon)
ROSEBURG (AP) – Nearly 300 people have gotten sick in rural Douglas County after an outbreak of shigellosis, an illness that bears flu-like symptons.
Community Health Services Director Dawnelle Marshall says at least 280 people attending a spiritual retreat center near the tiny community of Umpqua reported becoming ill.
Nine people were hospitalized, and 18 of the cases have been confirmed as being caused by the bacteria.
Marshall says most of the cases have been treated with antibiotics with good results. The exact source of the outbreak is under investigation.
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection acquired by consuming food or water that is contaminated with human feces, or from direct exposure to human waste.
