Reporters Who Cover Health Issues Should Know Something

And, maybe the ER doc as well. GI symptoms are not prominent in flu, especially in results. This is probably viral gastroenteritis, or else that disease they get on cruise ships.

Since we worry about bird flu, SARS, legionnaire's, it would be good if ER folks could do the differential on an outbreak. And, reporters knew what to say.

PS: they don't recommend hamburgers and french fries as a cure
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Cause of mass illness a mystery
17 people made sick from food or flu-like contagion
August 5, 2005

BY GINA DAMRON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

It's unclear whether food poisoning or a flu-like illness caused a group of children, teens and coaches at a wrestling camp in Southfield to get sick earlier this week, according to the Oakland County Health Department.

About 17 people -- ages 9 to their early 20s -- from Ken Chertow's Gold Medal Training Camp held at the Ramada Inn on 9 Mile near Northwestern Highway, were taken to Providence Hospital in Southfield Wednesday.

They complained of dehydration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains, said Dr. Steve McGraw, associate chairman of emergency medicine at Providence.

By Thursday, all had been treated and released, he said.
"There were a few that were more ill than others," McGraw said. "Everyone was moderately sick."
Food was taken from the hotel to be tested, said George Miller, health officer for Oakland County. The hotel has been cleared to continue serving meals, Miller said.
...
But, Jerome Lasinski said the hospital told him his 14-year-old son, Michael, had food poisoning.
Michael said he started to feel sick Wednesday morning after eating spaghetti with meat sauce the night before. After he was taken to Providence, he called his parents.
...
Michael went back to the Ramada, where he ate a hamburger and two plates of french fries
prepared at the hotel.
McGraw said the symptoms of food poisoning and illnesses like the flu are often similar and are usually treated the same.
"Everyone always blames the food," he said.
...
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Stomach Flu (Viral Gastroenteritis)

Stomach flu is a viral infection that affects the stomach and small intestine. It is also called viral gastroenteritis. The illness is usually brief, lasting 1 to 3 days.
How does it occur?
Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and the Norwalk virus. Gastroenteritis is caused by swallowing one of these viruses. The body fluids of infected people contain the virus, sometimes even before their symptoms begin. The virus can be spread by direct contact with an infected person (for example, kissing or shaking hands) or by sharing food, drink, or eating utensils.
The virus enters the stomach and intestine and inflames the lining of these organs. As a result, the stomach and intestine are temporarily unable to perform their usual functions. The virus can also cause food to move more rapidly through your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Some bacteria, parasites, medicines, or other medical conditions can cause infections that have symptoms similar to those of stomach flu. If your symptoms are unusually severe or last longer than a few days, your health care provider can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.
What are the symptoms?
When you have stomach flu, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:
nausea
vomiting
stomach cramps
diarrhea
mild fever
fatigue
chills
loss of appetite
muscle aches.
The illness may develop over a period of hours, or it may suddenly start with stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea.