At least 80 people have been struck down with illness in a suspected norovirus outbreak at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel.
Vancouver Coastal Health officials say 40 employees and 40 guests are affected and the hotel is temporarily closed while it is thoroughly cleaned.
All rooms, public areas and food and beverage facilities are being sanitized.
"It’s quite significant to shut down an entire hotel and especially at that size," said Claudia Kurzac, Vancouver Coastal Health’s manager for environmental health.
"Given the numbers of people potentially exposed and that were ill, I think that was probably the best course of action to take."
Just prior to the outbreak the hotel was hosting a conference for 500 delegates.
Hotel manager Steve Veinot said the source of the gastro bug has not been identified yet.
According to Kurzac guests at the Cavu Kitchen Bar in the nearby Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel also showed signs of illness.
Both hotels are operated by Larco Hospitality.
Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps.
