NewsWhore
08-10-2007, 06:30 PM
Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez and Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez, speaking on yesterday's Nuria & Huchi afternoon CDN radio talk show, said that the gastroenteritis outbreak at the Bahia Principe Rio San Juan resort is now suspected to have been caused by the rapidly spreading virus known as norovirus, which would probably have been brought in by one of the tourists staying at the resort.
The hotel was closed to new bookings. The virus comes from cold climates, and is not endemic to the Dominican Republic or the Caribbean.
Norovirus, sometimes referred to as gastric flu, is second to the common cold in reported illnesses, and affects millions of people around the world each year. It was previously known as Norwalk Virus, for a land-based outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio, some 30 years ago. The US Centers for Disease Control explains that while noroviruses are highly contagious, infections are not usually serious. People may feel very sick and vomit often or get diarrhea, becoming dehydrated if liquid is not replaced. Most people recover within a day or two and do not suffer any long-term adverse health effects. The virus has occurred frequently on cruise ships, because all that is needed is for one passenger to come aboard for hundreds to be affected.
An all-inclusive resort has much in common with a cruise ship scenario - people arrive in groups, share activities, and the illness can then spread easily.
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
The hotel was closed to new bookings. The virus comes from cold climates, and is not endemic to the Dominican Republic or the Caribbean.
Norovirus, sometimes referred to as gastric flu, is second to the common cold in reported illnesses, and affects millions of people around the world each year. It was previously known as Norwalk Virus, for a land-based outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio, some 30 years ago. The US Centers for Disease Control explains that while noroviruses are highly contagious, infections are not usually serious. People may feel very sick and vomit often or get diarrhea, becoming dehydrated if liquid is not replaced. Most people recover within a day or two and do not suffer any long-term adverse health effects. The virus has occurred frequently on cruise ships, because all that is needed is for one passenger to come aboard for hundreds to be affected.
An all-inclusive resort has much in common with a cruise ship scenario - people arrive in groups, share activities, and the illness can then spread easily.
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)