Team GB’S strict hygiene regime after norovirus is found at hotel
ORGANISERS of the World Athletics Championships in London were last night struggling to contain an outbreak of norovirus that has struck 30 athletes, coaches and support staff.
Competitors from Ireland, Germany, Canada, Botswana and Puerto Rico staying at the Tower Hotel in London have suffered the stomach bug since the outbreak emerged last Friday. Some of the athletes have been “quarantined”, while all team members have been issued with strict hygiene instructions in an attempt to stop the virus spreading.
Sources involved in trying to establish how the infection started said it
‘We can confirm a small number of guests have been suffering from an illness. The hotel was not the source’
was believed the virus was brought in to the hotel by an individual who was probably unaware he or she had it.
Around 30 people at London 2017 have been confirmed as having fallen ill, with initial lab tests finding two of them had the notorious vomiting bug.
Public Health England believes there are connected cases at other hotels accommodating those involved in the championships.
The British team, who are in another hotel, have not been affected. However, medics have told them to regularly wash their hands and adhere to a strict hygiene regime.
One Irish athlete, Thomas Barr, a 400m hurdler, has been affected and Athletics Ireland said its athletes yet to compete and yet to arrive in London will be housed in alternative accommodation to avoid encountering anyone potentially infected.
Norovirus is highly contagious and is spread through close contact. However, it is rarely serious. It can result in vomiting and diarrhoea, and those affected are encouraged to drink fluids to avoid dehydration. Most people make a full recovery within one or two days, but it is inevitably debilitating for those among the 30 who are athletes scheduled to compete.
Dr Deborah Turbitt, London deputy director for health protection at Public Health England (PHE), said: “PHE has been notified of a confirmed outbreak of norovirus among people associated with the World Athletics Championships. We have so far been made aware of approximately 30 people reporting illness and two of these cases have been confirmed as norovirus.
“PHE has been working closely with the London 2017 organisers and the hotel to provide infection control advice to limit the spread of illness.”
A spokesman for the Tower Hotel said: “We can confirm that regretfully a small number of our guests have been suffering from an illness. We have worked collaboratively with the EHO and IAAF to investigate the origins of the illness and can confirm that the hotel was not the source of the illness.”
Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, who had been tipped to win the 400m final yesterday, was allowed to withdraw from the 200m heats on Monday after vomiting in the stadium medical room. A statement from the IAAF yesterday revealed he had also withdrawn from the 400m final on medical grounds.