11 HOSPITALIZED: CHRISTMAS PARTY FOOD POISONING SUSPECTED

At least 11 persons have been hospitalized for suspected food poisoning following a Christmas banquet held in Cape Girardeau over the weekend.

A total of 32 people who attended the Miltenberger & Willing (M&W) and Saueressig Company party at the Show Me Center Friday night sought treatment Saturday morning with symptoms ranging from acute abdominal distress to fever and nausea.

"We suspect food poisoning," said Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, which is investigating the incident. The party was attended by more than 350 employees from the two companies.

"All cases of this type must be reported to the Missouri Health Department," said Craig. "We are in the process of talking to people who attended the party and finding out what they ate."

The health department is also talking to the caterers to determine where the food was obtained, how it was cooked, and how it was served, added Craig.

"We know that the catering services got their meat from another source," said Craig. "And the cake that was served also came from another source. This is not unusual. Many caterers get some of their food from other sources.

"Other people may have become ill because of the food," said Craig. "We have talked to some workers who were not hospitalized, but suffered some of the symptoms.

"Some of the people said they thought they were taking the flu," she added.

Craig said the banquet menu consisted of roast beef, turkey sandwiches, vegetable plates, dip, corn, green beans, scalloped potatoes and a sheet cake.

"We haven't discovered all the food sources yet," said Craig. "Both medical centers have been taking cultures, but we haven't received the test results yet."

Craig said that interviews have indicated that people became sick about eight to 10 hours after the meal was served.

People became ill Saturday morning and started seeking treatment at both Cape Girardeau hospitals, Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

"The first case we heard about was Saturday morning," said Jane Hopkins of M&W.

Twenty persons sought treatment at Southeast Missouri Hospital Saturday morning. Three of them were hospitalized. Four more workers were hospitalized at Southeast Missouri Hospital Monday.

Twelve sought treatment at Saint Francis, with four admitted.