Mystery Illness Fells Dozens at Fla. Summer Camp

A Florida summer camp ended up falling somewhere between Meatballs and Friday the 13th on Thursday after dozens of kids came down with a mysterious illness. It began with an urgent-sounding tweet shortly after 8pm EDT from Highlands County Fire and Rescue noting a "mass casualty incident" at Lake Placid's Camp Cloverleaf, which belongs to a Florida 4-H group. CBS News and WTSP report that the incident involved 33 kids and three adults falling ill, mainly suffering from nausea, vomiting, and headaches, though one person passing out was deemed concerning enough for a 911 call to be placed, according to Highlands County Public Safety Director Marc Bashoor.

The victims were taken to area hospitals to be checked out, though none appeared seriously ill. The fire department says it still doesn't know what caused so many to get sick at once; the health department is looking into it. In the meantime, the area where most of the patients seemed to fall ill has been cordoned off, and although many children were picked up by family, about 50 or so of the 115 attendees remained, per the New York Daily News. The kids at the camp range in age from 8 to 15. (More Florida stories.)