Dear Bus 7 Parents,

As you may be aware, many of our participants have been affected by a gastroenteritis bug. The following are details of the events that occurred on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday Morning July 14, we organized for one participant  program participant to see a doctor, offsite at Terem (24 emergency hospital) to assess stomach virus type symptoms. Upon return, she began to feel better. However by late Friday afternoon a few more participants participants started feeling unwell. Symptoms were stomach pain, vomiting and nausea and in some cases diarrhea. Our full time on staff medical support personnel advised we keep a close eye on teens displaying symptoms and keep them hydrated and monitored.

By 8pm our onstaff medical support personnel advised us to send 2 more participants participants to hospital emergency care to be checked out in response to a worsening of their symptoms. 

Before curfew at 11:00 pm, we visited all participant’s room to ensure that every participant was aware of our current medical situation.  We advised everyone to keep hydrated whether they were displaying symptoms or not. 

At 4:00 am Saturday morning, several participants woke up displaying more severe symptoms .At this point we called Moked Teva (the Israeli control room in charge of safety and security of all groups visiting Israel). With their support and guidance we brought  Magen David Adom ambulance service to the hotel. 

The Magen David Adom paramedics saw each child who needed medical attention. With Magen David Adom’s assistance, we offered every participant displaying symptoms opportunity to go the hospital. 11 participants were sent to the hospital to receive care.

Accompanied by our field coordinator Debbie Stone and two teen program advisors, participants were transferred to Naharia Hospital. The ER diagnosed a gastroenteritis bug, not food poisoning as originally suspected. Treatment prescribed was fluids and in some cases acetaminophen. 

By 1:00 pm, 9 participants were released and  2 were admitted to the hospital  for precautionary observation.

Currently, the health of all participants is stable and under control. The hospital advised that the bug takes from a few hours to a couple days to clear the system.

We have visited every participant in their rooms to ensure they are consuming fluids and food and are continuing to monitor all participant health closely. Each participant has my number and the phone number of our medic, both those phones, have been on at all times and will continue to remain on 24-7.

Due to these events taking place over Shabbat, communication has been slower than it would be on a regular day, we expect all communication to revert back to regular going forward. 

We would like to invite you to a conference call tonight 9pm PST to address the situation, answer any continued concerns you may have and share with you the steps we have been taking and will continue to take to adjust the schedule for your children’s health and comfort.

Please choose one of the following access numbers to join the call:

   +1 408 638 0968  or +1 646 558 8656

Conference Code: 813484864

iPhone one-tap:  +14086380968,,813484864#  or +16465588656,,813484864#

We have already seen most of the teens improving, and are moving forward with a healthy, happy and productive trip.

Best regards,

Rabbi Shmuli

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