Person County Health Director Janet Clayton said Friday that state health officials “are still awaiting results on some tests.”

Bacterial tests that have been run to date, Clayton added, had all come back negative.

Approximately 400 people attended the dedication ceremony and, as of Friday, 76 of the 335 people who had been contacted, reported suffering from symptoms such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea and chills.

Clayton said messages had been left for the remainder of the attendees. She went on to say that anyone who attended the luncheon who has not spoken with a health department spokesperson is asked to phone 336-597-2204, extension 2278.

The Orange County Health Department, the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Division of Environmental Health are assisting the Person County Health Department in the investigation.

“Samples included stool samples from attendees who were sick, employees of the catering company who were sick and various food samples provided by the catering company,” Clayton said.

The State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh is conducting tests on the samples, according to Clayton.

The luncheon was catered by The Catering Company of Chapel Hill, which is aiding in the probe to find the cause of the illness.

Among the food items offered at the luncheon on Nov. 30 were: salmon, pork, potato salad, pasta salad, spinach salad, rolls, cookies and beverages.

The Catering Company of Chapel Hill has been in business for 27 years. J.W. Walton, partner and catering and décor services designer with the company, said last week that “I’ve been in this business for nearly 27 years and nothing like this has ever happened.”

Walton also said his company has always carried an A health rating with the Orange County Health Department.