Marathon County, state probing food-linked illness in Rothschild

Wausau Daily Herald • July 25, 2008 ROTHSCHILD — The Marathon County Health Department is investigating a possible outbreak of food-borne illness after several people at a wedding in Rothschild became ill. At least 40 people became suddenly ill Saturday with “violent diarrhea that was fairly short-lived,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, Marathon County’s health officer. Some became ill that night and recovered by the next afternoon. County Health Department staff members interviewed 60 people, including 20 who did not become ill, to see if they could determine the source, Willems Van Dijk said. It was unclear exactly how many became ill, because the county Health Department interviewed only the number of people it needed to try to pinpoint the possible source of infection and the organism involved. The wedding took place at... [read full story]