Mankato city officials and the Minnesota Department of Health are investigating after a rash of people became sick following events at the civic center.
Greater Mankato Growth held a dinner at the venue last week with approximately 450 people attending. A few days later, city officials say about 50 of those people reported feeling ill with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The cause of the symptoms is not officially known, and city spokespeople point out other individuals became sick after a separate banquet was held at the facility.
However, city officials point out, it is not officially known whether the illnesses and the events are connected.
"This is very much like flu spreading through a school," said Pat Hentges, Mankato city manager. "Sources could be a variety of things, you know we can't rule out anything at this point, but we don't see anybody gravely or severely ill."
The Minnesota Department of Health inspected the facility after people reported feeling sick. Since then, officials say the civic center has been thoroughly cleaned.
"We took a little extra precaution in the kitchen areas, and the food areas, the tops of the chair handles where people might be touching," said Hentges.
City officials say another banquet was held at the civic center Saturday night, but so far no reports of illnesses have been received from those who attended.
