Article author:
Associated Press
Goddard, Kansas (AP) — Dozens of people fell ill last summer after visiting Splash Park near Wichita, Kansas, according to a new federal study.
A study by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 21 people contracted shigella and 6 norovirus after visiting the Splash Park at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard. According to the Wichita Eagle, another 36 people reported gastrointestinal illness after visiting Splash Park but had not undergone laboratory tests to confirm the cause of their illness. At least four people have since been hospitalized.
Previously, state and local health officials reported that eight park visitors contracted shigella, while others contracted norovirus, sapovirus, and enteropathogenic E. .coli.
The CDC report is based on a survey of 404 people who visited Splash Park between May 28 and June 19 last year.
Wichita was cleared to reopen last July after upgrading pumps and filtration systems and passing health inspections.
The report confirmed that the disease was not linked to any animal in the hands-on zoo.
At least three lawsuits have been filed against Splash Pads. One of his cases has been resolved, while his other two are pending.
The director of the wildlife park, Matt Fouts, said in a newspaper that although he was conducting research "just to analyze data to learn from the past," the research was useless. Told.
"There was little advice for other splash parks other than making sure 'Do Not Swallow' signs were in place, and did not provide any additional insight into the investigation." he says Fouts. “Nevertheless, we have taken the situation seriously and have found ways to enhance our systems and processes to ensure that the Splash Park is safer than ever, so we can confirm that no additional incidents have occurred. I did."
