MN Swimmers Sickened After Visiting ‘Purple Rain’ Lake Minnetonka Over Fourth Of July Weekend

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN. (THECOUNT) — Hennepin County Public Health is investigating reports of illness possibly related with the “Big Island” area of Lake Minnetonka, in Orono, Minnesota, over the Fourth of July holiday.

Hennepin County officials are working with the Minnesota Department of Health to determine the type of illness.

Officials have not yet identified a source, reports KARE11.

Individuals claiming to be ill are reporting symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting.

If you have experienced recent vomiting and/or diarrhea and were the that area around July 4, call the disease investigation phone number at 612-543-5230 to report symptoms.

DEVELOPING::

Lake Minnetonka is famously mentioned in the 1984 Prince film Purple Rain during a scene in which Prince’s love interest, Apollonia, attempts to “purify” herself “in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.” After she enters the water, Prince reveals that the water she has entered is not actually Lake Minnetonka. Dave Chappelle mocked the scene in a 2004 episode of Chappelle’s Show when he asked (as Prince), “Why don’t you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka?”

Geo quick facts: Orono is a city on the north shore of Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,437 at the 2010 census – Wikipedia.