NACKAWIC, N.B. — As an investigation continues after one person died and another 30 became sick following a community supper in New Brunswick, the province's acting chief medical officer says the bacteria Clostridium perfringens is usually associated with these kinds of cases.
An 87-year-old woman died and others became sick after the turkey dinner in Nackawic last week.
Dr. Jennifer Russell says in cases like this the source of the bacteria is usually in the turkey.
People who became ill reported signs of gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Russell says autopsy results indicate the woman's death wasn't related to underlying medical conditions and was tied to dehydration from diarrhea.
The medical officer says there are no licence requirements for community dinners in the province and she recommends anyone considering a similar dinner should read food safety recommendations on the provincial government's website.
Russell says tests to formally confirm the type of bacteria and the cause of its proliferation should be available next week.
