WEATHERFORD, Texas — At least 30 people, including some who were admitted to area hospitals, were reported sick due to a salmonella outbreak after a community meal Sunday at a Parker County church.  

Many members of Bethesda United Methodist Church, including several children, visited area emergency rooms in recent days with symptoms of food poisoning, including kidney issues and dehydration. One woman was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Christine Mann said the state is investigating the outbreak in connection with the church luncheon. 

According to Mann, three confirmed cases of salmonella infection were reported and 30 others who attended the luncheon are reporting similar symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

“We haven’t identified a contaminated food source,” Mann said. 

However church leaders are now asking members to keep details about the luncheon, as well as updates on the conditions of affected persons to themselves.

“Seems that everyone is on the slow road to recovery, so praise the Lord,” Youth Pastor Spencer Row wrote on the church’s public Facebook group Thursday afternoon. “Unfortunately, the situation that has taken place in our church has grabbed the attention of our local media. At this time, we as church staff, believe it is in the church’s best interest to allow our conference to handle this situation. We have taken the necessary steps to provide assistance internally. We ask that you refrain from posting or sharing any further information about this situation, for the protection of our members and our church as a whole.

“Please continue to pray for everyone, and make known how much love we have for one another! It’s in times like these that the true strength of the church is revealed.”

Church secretary Cheri Evers Wednesday declined to talk about the situation, and other church leaders did not respond to messages Wednesday and Thursday. 

Salmonella infection is common. Last year, 5,145 cases were reported to the state, including 38 in Parker County. 

Salmonella bacteria is spread by eating contaminated foods, drinking contaminated water or having hand-to-mouth contact with the stool of an infected person or animal. 

Contaminated foods can include undercooked poultry or eggs, raw milk and sometimes fruits and vegetables. 

Details for this story were provided by the Weatherford (Texas) Democrat.