The Associated Press
September 17, 2005
Health officials have confirmed six more salmonella cases, raising the total to 19 cases of the bacterial infection in a group of fifth-graders, a county health official said.
Chris Dobbins, assistant health director, said a few more cases may show up next week, depending on how many samples were taken.
“It is possible we will see one or two more next week,” Dobbins said. “We just don’t know how many samples were taken.”

The students from varying Gaston County elementary schools ate a meal Sept. 9 at The City Club of Gastonia as part of an etiquette program. Health officials have not pinpointed the private club as the source of the illness.
Health officials have investigated more than 100 people regarding the incident and more than 70 showed symptoms – diarrhea, nausea and vomiting – of salmonella.
Graham Bell, owner of The City Club, said employee test results were not known yet. None of his employees has missed work because of illness, Bell said.
Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of people and animals and are typically transmitted to people by eating contaminated or improperly cooked food. Vigorous hand-washing helps avoid spreading salmonella.
The number of private doctors who saw patients makes it difficult for health officials to determine the number of suspected salmonella cases, Dobbins said.
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Information from: The Gaston Gazette