Tainted Meat Sickens 81 at Ecuadorian Festival

MINNEAPOLISHealth officials say dozens of people became sick after eating tainted meat, including guinea pig, and other dishes at an Ecuadorian festival in Minneapolis this month.

At least 81 people went to Hennepin County Medical Center and Minneapolis Childrens Hospital with severe gastrointestinal symptoms after eating food served on Aug. 11 by Nieves Riera, the festivals host and one of the vendors.

The Minnesota Department of Health says numerous ill individuals have tested positive for Salmonella.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Hennepin County Public Health spokesman Bill Belknap said some of those who fell ill ate a traditional Ecuadorian dish that contained guinea pig meat, but others who didnt eat that dish also got sick. All of those who got sick were treated and released.

Health officials first heard about the illnesses a few days after the Ecuadorian Independence Day festival. Officials have had difficulty finding individuals who did not get sick after eating the food, and are still searching for the exact cause of the outbreak.