Food Poisoning- Everything went fine in the closing of the 27th annual NAACP State Convention last Oct. 30 until about 100 guests fell sick due to suspected food poisoning.
In the event last weekend at Sofitel San Francisco Bay Hotel in Redwood City at least 12 people were rushed to local hospitals due to vomiting and diarrhea. The patients were treated for dehydration. More guests were hospitalized on Saturday and Sunday morning after they felt ill over the weekend following the banquet dinner in the hotel.
Over 300 people attended and former Oakland Mayor and Assemblyman Elihu Harris was among those who felt sick for possible food poisoning. There is no confirmation whether Ex- San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who was the event keynote speaker, was also hospitalized.
The guests began feeling ill after they had dinner of salmon and salad. At about 10:30 p.m., people started vomiting in the Sofitel lobby, says George Holland, attorney who leads the civil rights organization's Oakland chapter.
Holland states, several guests become ill including teenagers and a 5-year-old kid. He also mentioned that his wife was hospitalized early Sunday, while he felt sick Monday morning. There are no exact details yet whether a possible food poisoning could be the cause of the incident.
Sandra Pinto Duhamel, of Accor Hotels that operates the Sofitel says, they are cooperating with health department officials to track the real cause of the illness. On Sunday, San Mateo County Environmental Health Services initial investigation revealed there were no violations linked to food poisoning at the hotel.
Communicable Disease Program officials are still doing investigation on the case by interviewing patients and checking their laboratory results, states Robyn Thaw, spokeswoman for the San Mateo Medical Center.
Food poisoning is a common but serious problem caused by food-borne microorganisms. Development of symptoms can be mild to severe diarrhea and dehydration and even death. These food-borne diseases are brought about by different bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, botulism, Campylobacter, Shigella, Listeria and norovirus.
