Salmonella outbreak hits more than 120 students at Calif.'s Pomona College

Nation's Restaurant News, August 2, 1999

CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- Los Angeles County Health Department officials said it could be later this month before they know the exact cause of an outbreak of salmonella poisoning that appears to have affected more than 120 students at Pomona College here.

According to Dr. Roshan Reporter, an epidemiologist for the department, eight people attending summer sessions at the 1,500-student college officially were diagnosed with salmonella poisoning as of July 22. Reporter said 121 students had complained of salmonellalike symptoms since July 15: vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, headaches and fever.

Salmonella can be caused by uncooked or undercooked meat or contaminated fruits and vegetables.

Only one student was hospitalized as a result of the illness, Reporter noted, although several students received intravenous treatment in the campus infirmary as a result of dehydration.

According to a report in the Claremont Daily Bulletin, the students all were attending a two-week course offered by the Western Credit Union National Association Management School. Officials at Pomona College were not immediately available for comment.

Reporter said the health department was engaging in a detailed probe because of the number of people reporting salmonella symptoms and because an initial query of students failed to narrow the list of possible causes.

She added that the department was also inspecting dining halls at related Colleges in Claremont. Pomona is one of five Claremont Colleges, and Aramark Corp.'s Campus Dining Services manages the foodservice for all five under one contract.

"This is a large outbreak for she said. "We want to do a thorough job of pinpointing the cause."

"We are working fully with the county health department to determine the cause," said Debbie Albert, a spokeswoman for Aramark's corporate headquarters in Philadelphia.

The Daily Bulletin was reporting that some students were confused by the health department involvement, saying that they had been told the illnesses were not related to food poisoning.