PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. — The start of what should've been another week of summer camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Putnam County has been put on hold after more that 50 overnight campers came down with gastrointestinal illnesses.
"Thursday of last week, we started hearing reports both from individuals in the community, as well as from our health department, about a situation developing at Rock Eagle up in Putnam County," Michael Hokanson with the North Central Health District said.
He's working to find out what made all of those campers sick.
"The majority of symptoms we're looking at right now are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. So, upset stomach, stomach pain, things like that, too, are associated with gastrointestinal illness," Hokanson said.
State 4-H Leader Arch Smith closed down the camp's weekend activities to bring in a private cleaning company.
"They have been on site Friday and are still here today. They will finish up today," Smith said.
Crews cleaned the cabins, dining hall, auditorium, and other shared areas.
"The swimming pools have been shocked several times over the weekend and the health department will inspect them again this afternoon," Smith said.
"We can't speculate as to whether it's a food-borne illness, a water-borne illness, or anything else until we get results back from the Georgia Public Health lab, which we are expecting some time this week," Hokanson said.
"Our quick response has allowed us to protect those that will be coming to use the facility," Smith said.
The campus will be back open and ready for campers on Tuesday afternoon.
Hokanson says they're also looking into whether a camper may have been sick or carrying the illness before coming to camp.