Tanganyika Splash Park Updates
KDHE Press Releases
Tanganyika Falls Splash Park Can Re-open
Tanganyika Falls Splash Park in Goddard, Kan. has exceeded the re-opening recommendations for splash park safety and will re-open this weekend.
The Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) and Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns approved the re-opening after Tanganyika voluntarily implemented enhancements to the facility in June and July. The approval comes after the review of a report by an independent aquatic design firm, chemical testing completed on July 21, and results of a July 16 inspection performed by SCHD, an independent pool inspector, and staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Updates
7/23/21 Tanganyika Falls Splash Park has exceeded recommendations and can re-open.
Individuals who visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park from May 28 through June 19 are asked to complete a survey designed to help investigators determine the cause of the outbreak and the number of people affected. The survey is at https://tinyurl.com/kssplash.
Eight people who visited the Splash Park on June 11 have tested positive for Shigella bacteria.
7/21/21 – Sedgwick County Health Department is reviewing information from an independent pool inspector.
7/15/21 - Investigations into reports of illness associated with Tanganyika continue.
7/14/21 - Seven people have tested positive for Shigella bacteria and visited the Splash Park on June 11, 2021. Investigations are ongoing.
DNA fingerprinting was performed on Shigella bacteria from two cases who reside in different counties, using a standardized laboratory and data analysis method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria isolated from these two cases were closely related genetically. This means that they likely share a common source of infection.
7/13/21 - Anyone who visited the park from May 28-June 19, 2021 is asked to take a new survey. Survey link is https://tinyurl.com/kssplash.
7/8/21 - Investigations into reports of illness associated with Tanganyika continue. Tanganyika continues making improvements to the Splash Park area. The Splash Park has been closed since June 19, 2021.
7/6/21 - Investigations into reports of illness associated with Tanganyika continue.
7/2/21 - Six people have tested positive for Shigella bacteria and visited the Splash Park on June 11, 2021. Investigations are ongoing. Water sample testing by CDC detected no Shigella bacteria. Further interpretation of the water sample results is ongoing.
The Splash Park has been closed since June 19. Since then, Tanganyika has been voluntarily making improvements to the Splash Park to prevent further illness. https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/7-2-21%20wichita%20water%20park%20final.pdf
7/1/21 - Investigations into reports of illness associated with Tanganyika continue.
6/25/21 - SCHD continues to reach out to Sedgwick County residents who took the KDHE on-line survey, reported being at the park, and are experiencing fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
6/24/21 - SCHD is reaching out to Sedgwick County residents who took the KDHE on-line survey, reported being at the park, and are experiencing fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
6/23/21 - Three cases linked to the park have tested positive for Shigella bacteria. The latest KDHE press release can be found here. For more information on Shigella bacteria, please view the Sedgwick County Shigella fact sheet. [English] [Spanish] [Vietnamese]
6/22/21 – Water samples were received by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory; results are expected next week.
6/21/21 - Sedgwick County staff met with Tanganyika staff to review the Splash Park.
6/20/21 - KDHE and the SCHD are in the preliminary stages of investigating several individuals with diarrheal illness who had visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Link to full KDHE press release can be found by clicking here.