CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. -- The Cabarrus County Health Departments says nearly 300 people became sick after attending a BBQ at Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church.

The department says it's received nearly 500 emails from people who attended the event and that 62 percent of those who did attend became ill.

Samples are being collected to find out what's behind the illness.

Last weekend, the Cabarrus Health Alliance said that they didn't know for sure that food from the BBQ caused the illnesses, but wanted anyone who had leftover food from the event to throw it away.