More than a dozen kindergartners from a Chicago Catholic school have fallen ill after visiting the Shedd Aquarium, officials confirmed Thursday—just days after 100 high school students got sick after attending a prom event at the popular tourist attraction.
The Saint Clement School kindergartners visited the Shedd on April 17, but did not eat there, Susan Thomas, public relations and communications manager for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said in an email. She said about 15 of 52 students became ill that evening or next day.
“At the time, the school was unsure what the root cause of the sickness was,” Thomas said. “They did immediately notify both the Shedd and the bus company to inform them that the students became ill.”
After Clement officials learned of the Andrew High School prom students becoming sick as well, the school reached back out to the Shedd and the Illinois Department of Health, she said. The aquarium, health department and Clement are all working to investigate the situation further.
The Cook County Health Department confirmed it was investigating the matter but said there were no new details to report.
The Shedd Aquarium said in a statement, following the prom sickness, that it has contacted its food provider to investigate the "alleged food-related illness" further. The aquarium noted that at this time, it does "not believe there are any safety concerns related to food or drink being served to our guests visiting the aquarium.”
Shedd and their food provider, Sodexo, both said they are both in contact with the school's administration and the Chicago Department of Public Health. Sodexo said it was aware of the incident and conducting a "thorough internal investigation."
About 50 students of Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park fell ill after a prom party at the Shedd Aquarium last month, according to a note sent to parents by Principal Bob Nolting.
Nolting’s note described the symptoms as “stomach flu-like” and said the school is working with the aquarium’s administration to determine the cause of the sickness.
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“We are deeply saddened that illness has dampened what was otherwise a very positive and memorable prom for our students,” Nolting said.
The aquarium said in a statement that it has gotten into contact with its food provider, Sodexo, to investigate the matter further, but noted that “At this time, we do not believe there are any safety concerns related to food or drink being served to our guests visiting the aquarium.”
Shedd and Sodexo are both in contact with the school administration and the Chicago Department of Public Health, according to the aquarium’s statement.
Nolting requested that parents whose children are sick after the prom call the dean’s office at 708-342-5894 with information on the illness.
