A FO BECOMES VERY ILL ON BOARD A FLT FROM CVG TO PHX. THE FLT DIVERTS TO DFW FOR RELIEF AND A REPLACEMENT FO. FO'S BELIEF THAT IT WAS FROM BAD FOOD EATEN 8 HRS PREVIOUSLY LATER PROVED TO BE A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS.

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FO (ME) HAD EARLIER NOTICED AN UPSET STOMACH WHICH HE THOUGHT DUE TO AN 8 HR PREVIOUS/MEXICAN SPICY MEAL HE HAD EATEN. TOOK ANTACIDS AND SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY. INITIAL TKOF AND CLB WERE NORMAL. APPROX 30 MINS INTO CRUISE (LEG WAS CVG-PHX) UPSET STOMACH RETURNED WITH NAUSEA. FO WENT ON 100% OXYGEN AND THAT HELPED TEMPORARILY. A FEW MINS LATER ACUTE NAUSEA AND INTENSE DIGESTIVE DISCOMFORT MANIFESTED THEMSELVES. A DOCTOR WAS SUMMONED AND HER DIAGNOSIS WAS ONSET OF THE FLU OR OTHER VIRUS. AT THAT POINT THE FO STARTED TO VOMIT INTO A BAG. AT THIS POINT THE CAPT AND DISPATCH ELECTED TO HAVE US DIVERT TO DFW FOR A NEW FO. DURING THE FLT THE CAPT HANDLED THE RADIOS MOST OF THE TIME AND; INCORRECTLY; USED THE WORD 'INCAPACITATED.' AT NO TIME WAS I UNABLE TO COMPLETE MY DUTIES; OR IF NECESSARY FLY THE ACFT. I DID PNF DUTIES SUCH AS CHKLISTS AND SOMETIMES ATC/RADIO COM. NO EMER WAS DECLARED; ALTHOUGH THE CAPT DID ASK FOR PRIORITY. AFTER A NIGHT IN THE HOTEL I HAD NO MORE NAUSEA; BUT DID HAVE GENERAL FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS; FOR WHICH I AM GOING TO SEE MY PHYSICIAN. NOTE: I CONSULTED MY PHYSICIAN ON MAR/TUE/98. HE DIAGNOSED IT WAS FOOD POISONING; AND AFTER A COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SAID I WAS WELL AND COULD RETURN TO FLYING. LET THIS BE A WARNING TO CREWS; ESPECIALLY SINGLE PLT CREWS; ABOUT THE SEVERITY AND SUDDENNESS THAT FOOD POISONING OR A VIRUS CAN STRIKE WITH. I DEFINITELY NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.