Symptoms related to suspected contamination of tri-tip sandwiches served to San Benito High School seniors has forced the cancelation of the school’s annual Grad Trip to Disneyland.
In a message posted on the school website, Superintendent John Perales said: “It is with much regret that I inform everyone that under the direction of the Medical Director of the San Benito Public Health Department we have canceled the senior grad trip to Disneyland due to widespread stomach and intestinal illness. Students will be refunded the cost of the trip. We will inform everyone as soon as we learn of their estimated time of return to San Benito High School.” Â Buses transporting students to Anaheim were turned around after the symptoms impacted a number of students.
It is the second year in a row that the trip has encountered troubles. Last year, the bus company contracted to transport students to Disneyland canceled at the last minute, forcing the school to use regular school buses — some of which broke down on the way to Anaheim.
SBHSÂ school nurse Tess Smith provided a note to teachers encouraging them to send any student with “stomach ache, vomiting or diarrhea to the nurse’s office with all of their belongings. They will be sent home.” The note said that “students that ate tri-tip but have no symptoms may remain in school.” Members of the senior class were served tri-tip at lunch on Thursday. Smith also encouraged teachers to “please discuss the need for good hand washing and not sharing food or drinks with anyone.”
SBHS Human Resources Director Shawn Tennenbaum said that “several people who at the tri-trip sandwiches yesterday have come down with symptoms of food contamination, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.” He said school officials have been in contact with the San Benito Health Department Public Health Nurse Communicable Disease Coordinator regarding this “widespread abdominal illness.”
“Due to the rapid onset and type of symptoms, she has determined that it is most likely due to Salmonella food contamination,” Tennenbaum said. “She conferred with San Benito Health Public Health Department Medical Director and he agreed.
The onset of symptoms is an average of 12 to 36 hours, but can range from six hours to seven days after ingestion of the contaminated food. The contagious period is during active illness.”
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