WICHITA—Authorities continue to investigate what caused the illness in children who attended the Splash Park at Taganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard.
On Tuesday, Patterson Legal Group filed a lawsuit in Sedgwick County District Court on behalf of those injured at the Splash Park, according to a statement from the law firm.
“Many children and adults were unknowingly exposed to a pathogen and have suffered violent periods of illness,” said Coleman Younger, one of two attorneys representing those who were infected.
The lawsuit alleges that Tanganyika failed to maintain proper sanitary conditions and did not warn guests once they knew, or should have known, about the outbreak.
“It’s a very scary situation for all involved, especially the children who fell seriously ill,” says Younger. “Businesses have a responsibility to the public to ensure that splash parks are operated in a safe manner to ensure situations like this do not happen.”
Tanganyika Wildlife Park’s Director Matt Fouts said on soicial media that he decided to close the attraction after discussions with the Sedgwick County Health Department.
He said the park is working to fix a filtration system problem. Cameron Vandusen said his 4-year-old daughter, Kennedy, was hospitalized Saturday after she started throwing up. Four other family members who went to the splash park Friday were also throwing up and having diarrhea on Saturday.
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.