Rhode Island officials investigate outbreak in swimmers at Spring Lake Beach
UPDATE: Rhode Island health officials determine cause of Spring Lake Beach outbreak
The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is investigating an outbreak of a diarrheal disease seen in swimmers of Spring Lake Beach Facility in Burrillville.
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Health officials have received reports of 85 illnesses, with 10 resulting in hospitalization, predominantly in children.
Most of those who reported being sick, swam at Spring Lake Beach on July 4. The etiology of the outbreak is still under investigation.
After receiving reports of the illnesses, HEALTH closed the beach and collected water samples on the morning of Sunday July 7. Those results, available today, showed no evidence of bacterial (fecal) contamination in the swim area. Additional water samples were collected Monday and the beach will remain closed pending the results of the testing today.
HEALTH is still awaiting lab results of stool samples obtained from ill patients in order to identify what exactly is making people sick. Those results are expected as early as Tuesday afternoon.
HEALTH advises anyone who recently swam at Spring Lake and is experiencing diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, or vomiting should see his or her doctor.
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[…] a follow-up to a story Monday about an gastrointestinal disease outbreak in Burrillville, the Rhode Island Department of Health […]