At least 15 sick after eating at hotel buffet, health inspectors investigating

The provincial health department is investigating a case of suspected food poisoning after more than a dozen people became sick after eating at a buffet at Manitoba’s largest convention hotel on the weekend.

A provincial spokeswoman said 15 people have reported being ill, including 11 attendees of an event held at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre at 1808 Wellington Ave. Their symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fever.

One of them, who did not want to be identified, said she experienced all of those symptoms after eating at the hotel restaurant buffet on both Friday and Saturday night.

“I considered going to emergency,” the woman said Thursday. “I’m still feeling the effects.”

“I was a health-care worker for 35 years, so I have a rather strong immune system and I’m vaccinated through the roof, and I still was sick.”

She said she went to sleep after Saturday’s meal.

“It was Sunday afternoon before I started to feel off and it just ramped up the whole day before I fell down for the count. I was feeling really, really sick. I thought it could have been the flu, but then I knew it was something else when I started throwing up and having diarrhea and a really high fever, too.”

The woman complained to public health this week and was told she wasn’t the first to do so.

Jason Krieser, the hotel’s general manager, confirmed they are co-operating with health inspectors.

“They’ve come in a couple of times to do tests. They are also investigating outside as well. We’re waiting for the report.”

The provincial spokeswoman said temperature and monitoring may have been the source.

“The first complaint was a single case received Monday afternoon. More cases were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing.”

The spokeswoman said while no one has been hospitalized, a few have gone to see their doctor.

She said the public health inspector went to the hotel kitchen Tuesday and Wednesday to review cooking, cooling, reheating and hot holding temperatures and processes.

“The buffet station does have a plastic sneeze guard for cold holding. For hot holding, the chafing dishes do have lids on them, which should be kept closed when not in service. The facility has been advised to ensure to supervise the closing of the lids when service is not occurring.”

The hotel has had no closures or warnings in the last three years, the province said.

As for the former nurse who became sick, she said while she won’t eat there again.

“I will bring my own food from now on or leave the hotel.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca