The Nation - News from Oct. 18, 1988

At least 120 flights, twice as many as previously thought, were apparently affected by an outbreak of illness among Northwest Airlines passengers and it is uncertain whether the source of the suspected food poisoning has been contained, officials said in Minneapolis. Buddy Ferguson, a spokesman for the Minnesota Health Department, said the exact number of people sickened with shigellosis had not yet been determined because hundreds of telephone calls were still coming in and test results were not available. The disease causes severe diarrhea and fever, but is not generally life threatening. “You’re probably talking several hundred suspected or probable cases,” he said. The flights involved took place between Sept. 15 and Oct. 13, which is three days later than previously thought. The food preparer, Marriott In-Flight Services, and Northwest Airlines are cooperating with the investigation, officials said.