WICHITA—State and local authorities continue to investigate the cause of illness in children and others who attended the Splash Park at Taganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard. The splash park has remained closed since June 19.
A lawsuit in the case filed by the Patterson Legal Group in Sedgwick County District Court on behalf of those injured at the Splash Park now now include one consolidated petition listing 47 parties. This amended action filed in Sedgwick County District Court on behalf of these injured parties alleges that Tanganyika Wildlife Park failed to maintain proper sanitary conditions that resulted in guests at Tanganyika Falls Splash Park being exposed to a dangerous pathogen, according to a statement on Friday from the law firm.
Further, the park did not warn guests once they knew, or should have known, about the disease outbreak, according to the Patterson Legal Group.
"More specifically, the petition claims that the disease outbreak was spread by an organism that existed at the park for a significant period of time, or was caused by water contaminated with organisms, pathogens, and/or fecal matter. This negligence of management has caused many customers to get sick, including children that have required ICU treatment at the hospital."
“Businesses have a responsibility to the public to ensure that properties operate in a safe manner. The folks who have approached our law firm after unknowingly being exposed to the dangerous pathogen or pathogens at Tanganyika Falls Splash Park have suffered violent gastrointestinal conditions, breathing difficulties that have required hospitalizations, and other periods of severe illness,” said Coleman Younger, one of two attorneys representing those who were infected.
“The situation continues to escalate for all involved, especially for the families and friends of children who fell seriously ill and are still recovering under the supervision of their medical providers at our local hospitals.”
The Kansas Department of Health (KDHE) became aware of the first three cases linked to the park on June 18. All three people tested positive for Shigella bacteria.
On Friday, KDHE reported water samples collected by the state at the splash park on June 19 were tested at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No Shigella bacteria were detected, but coliform and E. coli bacteria were detected in some of the samples, according to a media release from the state.
In water sample testing, the presence of these bacteria indicates likely fecal contamination. The water results are a snapshot of water quality on the day the samples were collected. Further interpretation of the water sample results is ongoing.
Three additional people have tested positive for Shigella bacteria, bringing the total cases linked to the park to six. All six cases visited the Splash Park area on June 11, 2021. Investigations into other possible linked cases are ongoing. Additional testing is underway to determine if the bacteria from each person are related.
KDHE and the Sedgwick County Health Department have also identified other diarrheal illnesses among individuals who reported being at the Splash Park. Individuals have tested positive for norovirus, sapovirus, and a type of E. coli called enteropathogenic E. coli. Investigations are ongoing as to whether these illnesses are associated with exposure at the Splash Park.
If you or a family member experienced symptoms of fever, diarrhea or vomiting after visiting Tanganyika Wildlife Park on or after May 28, 2021, please take this survey at https://tinyurl.com/kdhesplash.
If you live in Sedgwick County, and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, contact the Sedgwick County Health Department via email at [email protected] or call the COVID-19 line at 316-660-1022 (press 1 to leave a message). Sedgwick County is working to set up a separate, non-COVID phone line which will be released this week.
If you live outside of Sedgwick County and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, please contact your local health department.
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