All attended Taste of Cayman event
Dr. Kiran Kumar, the director of public health in the Cayman Islands, said patients began arriving at the two hospitals in downtown George Town at 2am Sunday while showing signs of food poisoning, including abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Dr. Kumar said 14 patients were treated and released Sunday from the Cayman Islands Hospital in Grand Cayman. He said one patient with similar symptoms sought treatment at Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Kumar said the cause of the reported illnesses appeared to be food contaminated with the bacteria staphylococcus. It was not immediately clear which food or foods had been contaminated, he said.
“Some (patients) were able to leave almost immediately, some were kept for a short while and treated … a couple of hours depending on each case,” he said. “They are all safe and they have all gone home.”
Dr. Kumar said Monday morning that health officials have been monitoring the hospitals for additional cases. He said he emailed area doctors and requested they contact health department officials if they have encountered and treated patients experiencing food poisoning symptoms.
Dr. Kumar said he did not have complete information regarding any reports of additional cases by press time Monday. He said follow-up interviews are to be conducted with patients.
Saturday evening, more than 5,000 people attended the 24th annual Taste of Cayman food festival at Camana Bay, said Jane van der Bol, executive director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. The outdoor gathering, which saw record attendance this year, enables people to sample dishes and drinks from the more than 40 participating restaurants and beverage providers.
“Pinpointing whose food was the cause will be very difficult,” Dr. Kumar said. “These people were sampling a lot of different foods.
“We may get an idea when people say things about commonly eaten foods,” he said.
Dr. Kumar said some of the patients seeking treatment told hospital staff that they knew of other family members and friends who also weren’t feeling well, but chose not to go to the hospital.
“We heard of about 10 more,” he said.
Food poisoning symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, can start just hours after eating contaminated food. Most often, food poisoning is mild and resolves without treatment. But some cases are severe, requiring hospitalisation.
Ms van der Bol said CITA is interested in working with Cayman health officials in the future to ensure all Taste of Cayman vendors utilise appropriate food preparation and management techniques.
“While the CITA hosted our 24th year of the biggest food and wine festival in Cayman, this is an unfortunate incident that may have arisen from attending our event,” Ms van der Bol said. “This is certainly something that we are going to follow through with the Department of Environmental Health because we would never want anything like this to happen to anybody at any time.”
Public health officials are in the process of collecting information regarding the incident and anyone who experienced similar symptoms but did not go to the hospital is urged to contact health officials at 244-2561 or 244-2621.
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yep, had it too. Was up for a solid 7 hrs from midnight til 7am, throwing up. I also attended the Taste of Cayman. Haven’t reported it until now. Just fought it off at home.
Another 4 people sick with food poisoning at my place after Taste of Cayman.
Another 3 to add to the list, my co-worker and 2 friends…
The article does not mention who made or prepared the food. I think the names of those responsible should be placed in the newspaper. This is a serious matter, which effects everyones reputation who was there serving good food.
As the article mentioned born.caymanian, they haven’t narrowed it down to who was responsible for it yet… There were over 40 restaurant booths at ToC this year. They still have to do a process of elimination amongst the reported sick.
bowerbird – I would see the doctor. Staying home and fighting off on your own is playing with your health.
TJP – I agree with you. The process of elimination has to occur, and I personally dont want to see any restaurant or group of restaurants lose their business over this incident, but something has to be done, and someone or something has to be held responsible.
I too was a victim but with that much food being served in the heat and maybe not properly chilled or simply not kept at the right temperature, its bound to happen. I stayed at home and rode the porcelain bus. The hospital can only do so much and nature must heal us.
In reading the other submissions, I see people reporting the same thing and lo and behold theres people ticking the boz that they disagree. Can you please explain to me what they mean., Peopele werent sick? They seem to be saying they imagined it. Please help me understand this line of thinking or whatever it is.
How about everyone affected writes down a list of the food they tried. Maybe this can be solved quicker if listed online for cross checking.
I went, but had no issues. It may also be food that was consumed later rather than at the beginning of the show.
Bubba!! I be ticking the boz all day my friend!! he ticks the boz, she ticks the boz! We all be ticking the boz mon!!