At least 36 people who attended a funeral in western Alabama on July 6 have fallen ill with Salmonella infections, reported the Alabama Department of Public Health Wednesday. The funeral was held at Eastern Star Baptist Church in York, AL, and was attended by at least 100 people, according to a press release from ADPH. Of those known to have been sickened, 30 were hospitalized in 9 different states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Oklahoma. The health department’s investigation into the outbreak began June 8 after a local hospital reported that 25 people had come in late on July 6 and into the following day complaining of fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. “If you attended this event and are ill, please contact your physician,” Dr. Mary McIntyre, Assistant State Health Officer for Disease Control and Prevention, advised the public Wednesday. The source of the bacteria is currently unknown. ADPH is continuing its investigation into the outbreak.
