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19 Sick at Walmart Distribution Center
13 Oct
Summary
- Nineteen workers fell ill at a Walmart distribution center in Tennessee.
- Health officials are investigating the suspected foodborne illness outbreak.
- Affected employees reported sudden nausea and vomiting.
Nineteen associates at a Walmart Distribution Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, were transported to local hospitals late last week following a suspected foodborne illness outbreak. Emergency services responded late Thursday night to reports of an employee experiencing symptoms consistent with a food-related illness. Upon arrival, additional units were called to assist, triaging approximately 25 to 30 patients on scene, with 19 ultimately requiring hospitalization.
Employees affected by the outbreak reported sudden onset of nausea and vomiting extending into Friday morning. Mount Juliet EMS and Rutherford County EMS provided support to manage the situation. Walmart has issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to associate health and safety and their cooperation with ongoing investigations by local emergency management and health officials.
The exact source of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed by public health officials. It remains undetermined whether the affected individuals consumed food from an on-site cafeteria, a catered event, or brought personal meals to the facility. Experts suggest that symptoms like sudden, severe vomiting could indicate toxins from bacteria or pathogens like norovirus, but confirmation requires further testing.
