Mystery Bug Sickens Philly Hotel Guests

February 11, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Health officials are investigating an outbreak of illnesses at a Philadelphia hotel that recently played host to about 200 Republican leaders, including President Bush.

At least 69 guests at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel -- all attending a business conference -- went to the hospital last week when a mystery bug caused dizziness and vomiting. More fell ill, but did not seek medical attention.

In addition, two people at a GOP retreat to discuss party policy January 29-31 -- a member of House Speaker Dennis Hastert's staff and a second staff member's spouse -- became ill the day after checking out, an aide to the Illinois Republican said Tuesday. Neither was hospitalized.

Philadelphia Health Department spokesman Jeff Moran said investigators are looking at several possible causes for the outbreak, including food contamination and the Norwalk virus, an illness that has been known to afflict travelers on cruise ships.

Most of the sicknesses did not occur until several days after the Republicans left. Moran said there was nothing to indicate the outbreak was linked to the GOP gathering, and no foul play was suspected.

Hardest hit were employees of Cendant Mortgage meeting February 2 for a sales conference. Jeanine Dooley, a spokesman for the Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company, said 69 employees sought treatment in emergency rooms. "Everyone is fine now," she said.

About 13 employees of Cytogen Corp., an oncology pharmaceutical group based in Princeton, New Jersey, also became sick but did not seek medical attention, said senior sales director Corey Jacklin. The meeting was February 2-8.

"It was like a stomach virus, like a 24-hour bug," Jacklin said.

Valerie Ferguson, regional vice president and managing director for Loews, said the company hopes to know the origin of the outbreak within a few weeks, and praised the city for doing a "thorough job" investigating.

City health officials were contacting hotel guests to ask what they ate, and some have been tested, which may help identify the illness, Moran said. There have been no new cases in several days.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/02/11/hotel.illnesses.ap/index.html