E. coli outbreak sickens Scouts at Goshen camp

By Lisa Crutchfield, Media General News Service
Published: August 1, 2008

Virginia Department of Health officials are continuing to investigate an E. coli outbreak at a Boy Scouts reservation that has affected 17 people so far.
Sixteen of those are Scouts ages 10 to 16 from Northern Virginia who attended camp at Goshen Scout Reservation in Rockbridge County last week. Illness has been reported in members of multiple troops. The 17th is an adult from Maryland.
Department epidemiologist Seth Levine said about 60 of the nearly 1,500 people on site at the camp’s July 20-26 session have reported symptoms. As of yesterday afternoon, laboratory tests had confirmed 17 cases of E. coli O157.
The source of the outbreak has not been determined.
“Public health officials are working closely with reservation staff to explore possible sources of the infection through interviews with staff, troop leaders, parents of ill children and health-care providers,” Levine said.
The health department became aware of the problem on Sunday. Public health officials inspected the reservation site this week and are trying to determine the scope of the outbreak.
“Our Council leadership has contacted the unit leadership of record from every unit in camp last week and notified them of the situation,” said Alan Lambert, Scout executive of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Bethesda, Md.
The average incubation period for E. coli O157 is three to four days but can last as long as 10 days, Levine said.
One can become infected by eating contaminated food, handling animals or swimming in feces-contaminated water.
Some people exposed to E. coli do not become ill, but others can develop stomach cramps and watery bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms include vomiting, fever and chills. In severe cases, the infection can damage organs including the kidneys.
Goshen is the National Capital Area Council’s resident summer camp situated on more than 4,000 acres in the mountains of western Virginia. Six separate camps are located on the shores of 450-acre Lake Merriweather.
The reservation has stayed open this week and will be open next, said Lambert.
Camp T. Brady Saunders in Goochland County is no longer in session but staff members are paying attention to the events at Goshen.
“When something like this happens, we review our current procedures to be sure we’re not in the same situation,” said John Hankins, reservation superintendent at the camp.
Lisa Crutchfield reports for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.