ATLANTA - Fulton County health officials are trying to determine why 19 college students from across the country became sick during a visit to Atlanta over the weekend. <br>
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All the students were treated at Piedmont and Crawford Long hospitals. <br>
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They reported nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. <br>
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The students stayed at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta for a Pi Sigma Epsilon marketing and sales profession fraternity convention. <br>
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Bob Finton is head of the epidemiology department at the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. <br>
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He says health department investigators are examining food samples to see whether food at the hotel may have made the students sick. Finton says officials also are trying to determine whether a virus or bacteria may have caused the illness. He says three of the students were sick before they arrived in Atlanta. <br>
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Finton says the students could have spread the illness to others by sneezing or shaking hands. <br>
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The Omni's general manager - David Shepherd - says hotel workers are cooperating with health officials.
