August 11, 2005
KMTR News Source 16 (Oregon)
ROSEBURG (AP) – Nearly 300 people have gotten sick in rural Douglas County after an outbreak of shigellosis, an illness that bears flu-like symptons.
Community Health Services Director Dawnelle Marshall says at least 280 people attending a spiritual retreat center near the tiny community of Umpqua reported…

By Barbara Isaacs
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Thereís a long list of items kids need to lug to school ó backpacks, crayons, notebooks, erasers.
But thereís one thing school health officials donít want kids bringing with them ó diarrhea.
Diarrhea in school is a special concern now, because since May, 135 cases of shigellosis have been diagnosed in Fayette County. There have been 24 new cases diagnosed since July 28.
Shigellosis is a form of dysentery that causes diarrhea, fever and vomiting.Continue Reading School officials wary students will bring outbreak to school

Waste from humans, geese plagues beach that draws thousands.
By Dan Sheehan
Of The Morning Call
Beltzville Lake was closed to swimmers again the other day, but the Three Bathing Beauties ó the self-bestowed title of Rose Marie Serina, Betty Lou Barlosky and Dolores Serfas ó lay waterside anyway, bronzing in the fierce August sun and wetting their toes in water deemed hazardous to human health.
It didn’t look hazardous. It looked enticing ó clear and cool, with tiny fish darting around under the low waves kicked up by passing motorboats. But a red no-swimming sign stood in the sand, illustrated by a desperate-looking character whose expression suggested the tormented existentialist of Edvard Munch’s ”The Scream” going down for the third time.Continue Reading Beltzville most troubled state park lake

August 2, 2005
UMPQUA — Health officials are investigating an outbreak of a bacterial infection in the Umpqua area.
Seven of the attendees at Lighthouse Center Oregon, a private spiritual retreat center on Tyee Road, were confirmed to have shigella, according to a Douglas County Health and Social Services Department press release. Others may also be ill.
About 1,300 people were registered for the three-week event, with 750 to 800 people at the center at one time.Continue Reading Attendees of Umpqua retreat contract illness

Burlington, Vermont – August 1, 2005
“We don’t see Shigella that much,” said Microbiologist Christine LaBarre at the Vermont Health Department lab.
Microbiologists test for Shigella bacteria in stool samples. They look for the organism, which can lead to serious stomach issues, including bloody diarrhea.
Usually four or five samples test positive for Shigella each year. Nine samples have tested positive already this year. The bacteria leads to an infectious disease called Shigellosis.
“We sent out an alert to health care providers around the state to encourage them to test persons with diarrheal illnesses and report those results to us,” said Dr. Cort Lohff, the state epidemiologist.Continue Reading Shigellosis Alert

August 1, 2005
KPIC 4 News Oregon
Dan Bain
Roseburg – Douglas County Health officials are investigating a Shigellosis outbreak in Umpqua, about 20 miles northwest of Roseburg.
Seven cases of shigellosis were confirmed among the attendees at a private spiritual retreat center in Umpqua according to Bob Furlow, Douglas County Health Department Director.”There are additional unconfirmed reports of illness among attendees and other specimens are pending.at least ten retreat attendees became ill and were hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center for dehydration.Continue Reading Shigella outbreak at gathering