Illness at Maryland Church Supper Kills Woman, Sickens 300

One person died, 17 were hospitalized and about 300 others were sickened after eating at a $15-a-plate church supper in St. Mary’s County, authorities said Wednesday.

St. Mary’s health officer Ebenezer Israel said investigators had isolated salmonella-B as the culprit but had not yet pinpointed which food item caused the illness, which is characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever.

The home-cooked specialties savored by 1,400 diners Sunday at Our Lady of the Wayside’s annual dinner included ham, turkey, oysters and other dishes.

Investigators said some members cooked food at home and brought it to the Catholic church, while other foods were prepared at the parish. No regulations govern food-handling practices for occasional meals served by nonprofit organizations, Israel said.

Officials declined to identify the woman who died Tuesday night at her St. Mary’s County home, but they said she suffered symptoms similar to those of the other diners. No cause of death had been determined for the woman, whom officials described as elderly.