Athletes Stricken by Mystery Illness

Concerned Ventura High School officials are trying to determine why several members of the varsity football team fell ill shortly after its Friday night football game.

Coach Phil McCune said at least 10 players complained of flu-like symptoms after the team’s victory over Arroyo Grande High School at Larrabee Stadium in Ventura.

Although the school’s three football teams played on Friday at the stadium--freshmen at 2:30 p.m. and junior varsity at 4:30 p.m.--only members of the varsity team, which played at 7:30 p.m., came down with the mystery bug. No one from the visiting team got sick.

McCune said the symptoms passed in a day or two and the players are recovering rapidly. On Monday, he was still unsure of the exact number of players who became ill as all had not yet called in.

The team ate a tri-tip dinner together Thursday, the evening before the game, but not everyone at the meal got sick, McCune said.

During Friday’s game, the team had water to drink and possibly other beverages such as Gatorade, but so did the other teams.

County health officials are investigating.

“Whatever it is, we want to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” McCune said.