The Jackson County Health Department (JACOHD) is investigating an outbreak of an unidentified gastrointestinal illness among attendees at a robotics competition held at Lee’s Summit North High School from March 29th - April 1st. The announcement was made on Monday after JACOHD received the first reports of
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sick attendees. So far, more than seventy cases have been reported, with no diagnosis included, and the majority of these cases are from the metro area.
The competition involved teams from schools outside of Jackson County, including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Brazil, prompting JACOHD to coordinate with the local health departments of the respective areas in order to properly investigate the reports. The risk to the general public is currently low, with reported symptoms being mild and including chills, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and a low-grade fever.
The health department has reached out to attendees with a survey to gather more information about those who have been affected or who may have been exposed in order to help with the investigation. Those who are still experiencing symptoms are encouraged to contact their local health department for more information about available testing resources.
At this time, the cause of transmission and the exact nature of the illness remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing. JACOHD encourages participants to complete the survey in a timely fashion to assist with the investigation.
In case you or a loved one experience vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea, after attending this event, it's important to report it now. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.
Source:
jacohd.org
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