Rock Island High School illness outbreak traced to team dinner

There’s new information on the illness outbreak at Rock Island High School that caused the school to reschedule its Homecoming game last month.

The City of Rock Island and Rock Island County Health Department have taken immediate steps to mitigate a foodborne illness outbreak at Rock Island High School. The outbreak was traced to a sports team dinner where at least 45 people became sick, according to a news release from the city.

The city and the Rock Island County Health Department were notified on Sept. 25 about a probable foodborne illness outbreak stemming from a team dinner for the Rock Island High School football team on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the high school cafeteria. The dinner was catered by a home-based business called Sunshine and Spice from Moline. Fajita chicken, seasoned taco beef, cheese, flour taco shells, cheesy pepper beans, cilantro corn rice and pico de gallo/salsa were served to about 75 players, coaches and parents who attended the dinner.

Kyle Hoffmann, a trainer for the football team, contacted Andy Swartz, Rock Island City Health Inspector, on Sept. 25 to report that 23 players, five coaches and three parents began exhibiting symptoms of foodborne illness by 11 p.m. on the night of the dinner. At least 45 people who ate food at the team dinner experienced vomiting and diarrhea. None of the people required hospitalization and only one student saw a doctor. Most symptoms were gone within 24 hours.

Rock Island County Health Department Administrator George Verástegui said the department advised Rock Island High School that the football game should be postponed until all players were symptom free for 24 hours, per IDPH and CDC guidelines.

Swartz met with the owner of Sunshine and Spice and learned the business is not licensed or food-safety certified, according to the release. The business was ordered to cease operations and given options to become properly licensed. The owner said he bought the food and ingredients from Walmart in Moline, a store in Geneseo and farmers markets in Davenport and Coal Valley. Seasonings and olive oil were purchased from Spotted Apron and produce came from the farmers markets.

"Upon being notified of this probable foodborne illness outbreak, the City of Rock Island and the Rock Island County Health Department acted immediately by making phone calls and gathering as much information as possible to share with the Illinois Department of Public Health,” Swartz said. “This investigation is still ongoing. All leftover food from this incident has been seized by the city and the Health Department."

Swartz worked with the Rock Island County Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to conduct an official IDPH survey of the people affected by symptoms. Survey results were compiled by IDPH and show the consumption rate of the food items served:

• 92% consumed cilantro corn rice

• 88% consumed fajita chicken

• 88% consumed cheese

• 88% consumed flour taco shells

• 83% consumed seasoned taco beef

• 58% consumed cheesy pepper beans

• 58% consumed pico/salsa

The incident is still an active investigation, pending test results for pathogens in the food seized by the county. The City of Rock Island and Rock Island County Health Department remind residents to verify proper licensing and certification before hiring food vendors.

Kler Soe, director of communications with the Rock Island Milan School District, sent Our Quad Cities News a statement about the incident via email.

"We take the health and safety of our scholars and staff very seriously. Our staff responded quickly and took the appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of our scholars and staff. We are proud of the care and diligence demonstrated by our team throughout the situation. We also appreciate the cooperation and guidance of the Rock Island Health Department, as well as our Rock Island High School nursing staff and team doctor, who advised us throughout the matter."

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