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High school banquet leaves more than 20 sick with E. coli, many hospitalized

Umito November 16, 2024

FENTON, MO (KMOV/Gray News) – More than 20 Missouri high school students and parents were sickened by E. coli following an end-of-season banquet, and several were hospitalized.

According to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, the illnesses stem from an off-campus event involving students at Rockwood Summit High School near St. Louis.

The Ministry of Health is investigating the outbreak of E. coli and confirmed that the school itself is not the source, although school officials are taking additional steps to deep clean the campus.

Michele Dubrouillet said her 16-year-old son Nolan started having diarrhea and cramps on Tuesday. She took him to the emergency room at Mercy Hospital St. Louis after seeing an alarming change in the diarrhea.

“When it started turning into blood, I started to worry. So I called the doctor this morning, and he advised me to definitely take him to the emergency room,” she said.

Dubrouillet said her son attended an end-of-season banquet with other students on Nov. 7. According to the Rockwood Summit High School band calendarit was the evening when the orchestra banquet took place.

“A lot of his friends just aren’t feeling well and several of them have been hospitalized,” Dubrouillet said.

Authorities have not said exactly where the banquet took place or identified the source of the outbreak.

The Health Ministry said more than 20 students and parents were sick, and that number continues to rise.

Amanda Brzozowsky is the agency’s senior epidemiologist and is leading the investigation to find the source.

“There are a few strains that make people sick, and this particular strain can make people very sick,” she said.

The Rockwood School District released the following statement Thursday:

“On November 13, Rockwood was informed by the St. Louis County Department of Public Health that several cases of E. Coli affecting students and parents at Rockwood Summit High were suspected to be linked to an off-campus event. We worked with STLDPH to notify all staff members and families of students who attended the event of suspected cases, what symptoms to look for, and if they experienced any symptoms, to contact their health care provider immediately .

As an added precaution, we sent additional members of our facilities team to conduct a deep cleaning that evening at Rockwood Summit High, which included spraying classrooms and common areas with special attention to disinfection of all bathrooms and door handles. The well-being of our staff and students is always a top priority, and we appreciate partnering with county health officials to ensure that well-being and safety.

The Ministry of Health said symptoms of E. coli usually begins two to five days after exposure and can last five to 10 days. The most common symptoms of E. coli infection include severe (often bloody) diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps.

Anyone who thinks they may have been infected with E. coli should contact their doctor.