Elbow Pass Camp Illness 2012

On the morning of August 4, 2012, three food handlers who were working for a state kitchen on the Elbow Pass Fire became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms and were transported to a health clinic for treatment. The Safety Officer and Logistics Section Chief from the Elbow Pass fire camp immediately took precautions, including contacting the Lewis and Clark County Health Department to report a possible outbreak of food-borne illness. Officials from the health department were dispatched on August 5th to investigate the site and found the kitchen had met cleaning standards and was in good working order. Samples from those sickened were sent to a lab, two of which ultimately tested positive for Norovirus G1. Norovirus is commonly known as stomach flu, and can spread rapidly through person-to-person contact and food contamination, especially in closed communities such as fire camps.

All kitchen staff were demobilized from the incident on August 6 and the kitchen was cleaned two more times. By August 7, an additional four cases were reported--for a total of seven individuals. There was no evidence that the virus was ever spread through the kitchen or food, as all cases were directly tied to person-to-person contact. No additional cases were reported after the 7th, and all individuals who were sickened recovered within 24 hours of showing signs of infection.

Medical or Exertion, Medical Emergency, Non Fire