Conventioners Released from Hospital

Eight conventioneers who fell ill at the Cherry Hill Hilton over the weekend were discharged from a hospital Tuesday morning. None showed any signs of the bacteria that caused the death of a Massachusetts woman who also attended the national Cendant Mortgage sales conference. A hospital spokeswoman said the state is also processing cultures from the eight. Results may take a week or two.

The eight all went to Kennedy Memorial Hospitals-Cherry Hill after Joanne Hemstreet, 45, of Kingston, Mass., died early Sunday. Authorities later said she was stricken by pneumonia and meningococcemia, an overwhelming infection of the blood caused by a bacteria that can also cause meningitis.

Health officials suspect the ailments of the seven women and one man being released Tuesday were coincidental.

They came from different parts of the country and some had flu-like symptoms before they arrived at the conference last week.

More than 80 people attending the conference reported to the hospital either because they had symptoms or had been in contact with Hemstreet.

Author: 6-ABC-AP