EDMONTON — There's been an increase in the number of evacuees from the Alberta wildfire who are suffering from an apparent outbreak of viral gastroenteritis.
Alberta Health Services says that as of Monday afternoon, there were 105 cases reported in the Edmonton zone of people suffering from fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
There were four cases in Calgary and nine in the central zone.
Health officials reported yesterday morning that between 40 and 50 people had fallen ill at the large Edmonton evacuation centre.
Dr. Chris Sikora, the medical officer of health for Edmonton, says the illness and the increased rate of sickness are not unexpected, given the large number of people who are using the various sites.
Sikora says steps are being taken to prevent the virus from spreading, but it will still take about a week for the outbreak to pass.
