Salmonella poisoning: Dozens hit by suspected outbreak at school principals' conference
A total of 24 people have been hospitalised from a suspected salmonella outbreak at a school principals' conference in Brisbane last week, Queensland Health has said.
Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said a total of 175 people fell ill after attending the conference at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
About 1,200 delegates from schools around the state gathered for the conference.
Dr Young said people had been hospitalised after returning home to multiple locations across the state, and that their conditions varied.
"It's a moving issue, so people will be going in and out of hospital so I can't say at this minute in time how many people in time, but 24 people have required hospitalisation to this point," she said.
"We're working very closely with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre to work through the menus that were served while these people attended
"We're also of course talking to the people who were unwell to work out the commonalities, and just to confirm that it was due to their attendance at the convention centre and that they hadn't been elsewhere while they'd been attending that conference."
She said it was a varied menu and they were trying to work out precisely what people ate.
"The usual causes for salmonella infections are poorly cooked meat, poultry and eggs," she said.
"Of course you can get transmission person to person but given there are so many people unwell we think it's probably related to the food they all shared."
No antibiotics for salmonella infections: chief health officer
Dr Young said it was one of the largest outbreaks of food poisoning in Queensland, but not the largest.
She said the illness had exacerbated other illnesses among some of those who were hospitalised.
"Anyone who has chronic disease due to whatever other cause is more likely to get into problems should they get a salmonella infection but, yes, the biggest problem with salmonella infections is dehydration," she said.
"You can't treat it, there's no antibiotics, there's nothing like that. You really need supported care."
Dr Young said the convention centre was working with the Brisbane City Council to ensure there were no further outbreaks.
She said Queensland Health expected to confirm the source of the food poisoning outbreak within the next 24 to 48 hours.
An Education Department spokesperson said they were working closely with Queensland Health on the matter and would be undertaking an investigation.
The health and welfare of employees was taken very seriously, the spokesperson added.
"The department is contacting all of those who attended the conference to ensure they are aware of the situation," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"The department will provide whatever support is required to employees affected by this incident."
