12 Hospitalized After Thanksgiving Dinner

Twelve people were hospitalized and about 20 more required medical treatment for what appeared to be salmonella poisoning after attending a potluck Thanksgiving dinner in the Pasadena area, health authorities said Sunday.

Salmonella was pinpointed as the culprit in one patient’s case and suspected as the cause of the others’ symptoms, which included fever, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches.

Most of the victims were treated at St. Luke Medical Center in Pasadena. Mark Uffer, chief executive at the hospital, said they began showing up in the emergency room early Friday morning “and we’re continuing to see people.” Eight of those hospitalized were children.

The poisoning occurred at a private home, scene of a large family gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday. The guests brought in an assortment of homemade dishes, according to health investigators.

Exactly which item of food caused the illnesses was not immediately known. Dr. Roshan Reporter, an epidemiologist with the Los Angeles County health department, said tests and interviews were being conducted to determine precisely how the outbreak occurred.