OHIO Island's mayor doubts illnesses are all connected

Investigators are still looking for links among the hundreds who fell ill.
PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio (AP) -- The mayor on Lake Erie's South Bass Island said Tuesday that he doubts all of the claims of illnesses are connected, hoping to reassure tourists that it's safe to visit.
Mayor Mack McCann said that some of the nearly 900 people who have reported suffering from a gastrointestinal illness after visiting the island could have been exposed to flu, food poisoning or too much alcohol.
"I want to know how they can be absolutely sure it's connected to this," McCann said. "They can't. There's no way they can.
"These people have been lots of places and been exposed to lots of viruses. They've been to Put-in-Bay, but that doesn't mean they have the same virus."
The Ohio Department of Health said Tuesday that investigators have talked with 893 people who say they fell ill after visiting the island and the surrounding area, which is about halfway between Toledo and Cleveland.
The total includes tourists from Ontario, Canada, and 11 other states.
Tested positive
So far, a handful have tested positive for two types of bacterial infections -- campylobacter and salmonella -- and one type of viral infection -- norovirus.
Most people said they became sick within two or three days of visiting the summer getaway island that draws about 15,000 people by boat on weekends to its bed and breakfast inns, wineries and beaches and bars.
Visitors' symptoms including nausea, chills, fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting have generally lasted about 24 hours.
Investigators have been looking for common links that could indicate why so many people have reported illnesses.
Gov. Bob Taft said Tuesday he's concerned about the impact on tourism but solving the mystery must take top priority.
"We want to pinpoint it, we want to remedy it, so that the public once again can feel safe and secure going to Put-in-Bay," he said. "Certainly the impact over Labor Day is important, but it's even more important that we identify with certainty what is the cause."
Wants clean bill of health
McCann said he wants the health department to issue a clean bill of health for the village's water system, which he said has been tested regularly with no negative results.
"Our water is perfect in the village," he said.
The mayor, who owns several island businesses, said the island's business was down by almost half last weekend and is expected to drop even more this week.
"It's a financial disaster," McCann said.