Forty people struck by illness as lab tests confirm three norovirus cases

Forty people associated with the world championships have reported illness, with three cases of norovirus identified, Public Health England announced yesterday.

Illness has affected athletes and officials at the championships, which have been taking place at the London Stadium this week and finish on Sunday.

PHE London deputy director for health protection Dr Deborah Turbitt revealed the illnesses were being treated as an “outbreak”.

She 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 40 people reporting illness and three of these cases have been confirmed as norovirus by laboratory testing.

“PHE has been working closely with the London 2017 organisers and venues to provide infection control advice to limit the spread of illness.”

London 2017, the championship organisers, announced on Monday night that several London 2017 competitors – staying at the same official team hotel – had suffered gastroenteritis.

A spokesperson for the Tower Hotel on Tuesday morning insisted it was “not the source of the illness”.

Public Health England on Tuesday said around 30 people had been affected, with laboratory testing revealing norovirus in two cases, and later said that it believed there are connected cases at other hotels accommodating those involved in the championships.