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Health officials investigating virus outbreak in Las Vegas
Local health officials have not classified reports of gastroenteritis as an outbreak, but they are investigating complaints that tourists from Hawaii became ill after visiting several places in Las Vegas.
“We’re looking at a nationwide illness, here in Las Vegas as well as Hawaii and other places,” Stephanie Bethel, a district spokeswoman for the Southern Nevada Health District, told the AP. “At this point, we don’t believe there’s a specific place of origin.”
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Bethel and a health district epidemiologist, Brian Labus, would not say how many cases had been reported, but other reports said a Hawaii group of six people last week reported flu-like symptoms consistent with a highly contagious norovirus, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, chills and cramps.
Whatever the seriousness of the outbreak, health officials said that people could prevent the illness by washing their hands.
The Southern Nevada Health District issued a press release warning visitors to Las Vegas and others about a spike in illnesses.
“The illnesses are not connected to any particular restaurant, facility or food,” the release said, “but are affecting people through Las Vegas Valley.”
Rob Stillwell, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which owns the California, said cleaning and prevention procedures had been implemented at the hotel in recent weeks. Guests were being advised at check-in to wash their hands frequently.
“It is flu season, and this isn’t something out of the ordinary for us,” said Mr Stillwell.
Gastroenteritis is a mild viral infection with symptoms similar to flu, including diarrhea, usually lasting about 24 hours. Most people do not seek medical attention.
The virus is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food, touching contaminated surfaces or having direct contact with someone who is ill.
The California hotel-casino was the focus of a gastroenteritis outbreak between Dec. 3, 2003, and March 12, 2004, when the Health District investigated 1,174 reports of illness from people who visited the hotel. At the time, health district officials blamed media coverage for prompting people to report illnesses.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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