Citizens left in the dark: Clark

21.nov.06
The Hamilton Spectator (ON)
Dana Brown

When James Smith's wife Alberta became ill last week, the 82-year-old was cited as saying he had to practically drag her in and out of the bathroom, adding, "It just went on and on and on all night and she was shaking like a leaf. I was getting scared. She was so weak."
The story says that Alberta, also 82, is one of at least 75 people who have fallen ill after coming into contact with food prepared at the Piazza Banquet Centre on Anchor Road last week. She and James, who also had a brief bout of illness, attended a Dofasco retirees party at the establishment last Wednesday night. She became ill a day later.
The city's public health department is investigating 10 events that were supplied food by the centre over a period of several days. Public health officials were informed late Wednesday afternoon there may be a problem. The department decided to close the establishment's kitchen late Friday afternoon.
That was too late for Wendy Taylor, a 51-year-old who began vomiting two days after attending an event at the Piazza on Thursday evening, who was quoted as saying, "This is not right. If they knew there was something wrong and there was a potential problem why didn't they just shut this hall down? If they had been in my shoes on the weekend, they would've shut it down."
Dr. Matthew Hodge, associate medical officer of health for the city, was cited as saying there needs to be reasonable grounds to issue a closure notice and it's always a challenge as to when to make the call to do it and that regardless of whether people know the origin of their illness, those who find themselves getting sicker typically seek medical attention, adding, "So telling them they might have gotten sick from a banquet facility when we are still trying to confirm that link, actually, I don't see how that addresses their need for fluids and/or medical attention. But reasonable people can disagree on this."
Ward 9 councillor-elect Brad Clark was cited as saying that leaving the public in the dark about the outbreak is inexcusable, adding, "That's a serious concern given that the public health department didn't really know what the illness was or what was causing it."
Health officials have confirmed that one person was infected with norovirus, which causes gastroenteritis. They believe the virus spread from a sick food preparation worker.
Rob Silenzi, co-owner of the banquet centre, told The Spectator in an earlier interview that once they were aware of a potential problem, workers who had even the slightest chance of being ill were turned away. The establishment has co-operated and done everything asked of it by the health department, Silenzi stressed. The kitchen at the Piazza may reopen today, after a final inspection.