Dozens sickened at 20 local high schools after weekend event
SEATTLE -- State health officials are investigating an illness that has sickened dozens of students and staff members at 20 local high schools.
All of the sickened people had attended the state cheerleading championship at Comcast Arena over the weekend. Several have been hospitalized with the unidentified illness, but their conditions were not known.
The affected students attend high schools in Marysville, Juanita, Ballard and Mount Si. Also affected is Skyline High School, whose cheerleading coach and principal have also fallen ill.
Symptoms are said to include vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness. Officials said an exact cause will not be known until lab tests are complete.
Mount Si sophomore Carli Rogers was one of the six cheerleaders at her school who got sick.
"I lost my appetite around Sunday night, and then just vomiting Monday morning and dizziness, but when I heard that people were getting hospitalized it kind of worried me that it might not be normal," she said.
Mount Si cheerleading coach Jessi Stevens said the school is taking the illness seriously.
"I know Mount Si is taking precautions of washing our hands, just not sharing water, not sharing food, just keeping well rested," Stevens said.
The state Department of Health, the Snohomish Health District and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association are investigating.
All of the sickened people had attended the state cheerleading championship at Comcast Arena over the weekend. Several have been hospitalized with the unidentified illness, but their conditions were not known.
The affected students attend high schools in Marysville, Juanita, Ballard and Mount Si. Also affected is Skyline High School, whose cheerleading coach and principal have also fallen ill.
Symptoms are said to include vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness. Officials said an exact cause will not be known until lab tests are complete.
Mount Si sophomore Carli Rogers was one of the six cheerleaders at her school who got sick.
"I lost my appetite around Sunday night, and then just vomiting Monday morning and dizziness, but when I heard that people were getting hospitalized it kind of worried me that it might not be normal," she said.
Mount Si cheerleading coach Jessi Stevens said the school is taking the illness seriously.
"I know Mount Si is taking precautions of washing our hands, just not sharing water, not sharing food, just keeping well rested," Stevens said.
The state Department of Health, the Snohomish Health District and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association are investigating.
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