Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Norwalk virus count hits 1,174

A total of 1,174 tourists, most from Hawaii, have reported getting sick from a stomach virus after visiting the California hotel in downtown Las Vegas since December, health officials said Monday.

Norwalk virus, or norovirus, is a stomach illness that causes flu-like symptoms, usually in people living in institutions, in schools and on cruise ships. It has been reported by Las Vegas visitors since Dec. 3, Clark County Health District spokesman David Tonelli said.

Health district inspectors have not determined what has caused the virus to spread, Tonelli said, but all of those infected had visited, gambled or stayed at the California, owned by Boyd Gaming Corp.

The Norwalk virus can make people miserable for up to three days. Infants, the elderly and immune-compromised people can suffer more serious bouts of the illness because of dehydration.

Increased media coverage of the California hotel outbreak, particularly in Hawaii, has prompted more reports of illnesses among tourists who came to Las Vegas but did not contact health officials in December, January or February, Tonelli said.

The Health District compiled its initial total from hotel security reports, hospitals, doctors and patients themselves, Tonelli said.

A slight decline in the number of complaints of new illnesses occurred March 5 through March 12 when 74 people reported symptoms, Tonelli said. However, the cumulative numbers of cases have continued to rise.

"The virus is highly contagious," Tonelli said. It can infect people who have physical contact with those with the illness or from a surface that an infected person touched.

The virus can spread through the air as well. People who are infected remain contagious for up to three days after they themselves are symptom-free, he said.

The virus can live outside the body for up to a month. This fact makes it important for hotel guests to report any vomiting or diarrhea to hotel staff so extensive cleaning can be done, Tonelli said.

Boyd is cooperating fully in the investigation, Tonelli said, providing reports and allowing access to health inspectors.

Standard disinfectants don't kill the virus effectively, so hotel staff members clean rooms by sending a fine mist of hospital-strength disinfectant to reach drapes, spreads and other nooks and crannies, he said.

Towelettes used by guests and staff contain up to 70 percent alcohol and drinks are served in disposable plastic cups.

The common intestinal virus typically occurs as the weather warms up and people forget to wash their hands or forget to refrigerate foods.

"The No. 1 thing is there is no substitute for washing your hands," Tonelli said.

Epidemiologists at the Health District won't classify the California's norovirus outbreak as over until a steady decline in reported cases has been observed over one month, he said.

Boyd Gaming Group spokesman Rob Stillwell said the hotel's number of reported cases differs from the Health District's. As of Monday, the hotel reported a total of 284 cases since Dec. 3. Asked how those numbers were gathered, Stillwell said, "just by who reaches out to us."

Package tour cancellations have been "minimal," he said, adding that "the ongoing reporting of it (illnesses) in the media has certainly had an impact."

Most people who call the hotel want to know what is being done to sanitize the property, Stillwell said.

The heightened cleaning procedures at the hotel have been in place about 10 days, under the direction of health inspectors, Stillwell said. Hotel housekeeping supervisors inspect every cleanup, he said.

Omni Air planes, chartered to take visitors from Hawaii to Las Vegas through Vacations Hawaii, are also being checked.

No lawsuits have been filed as a result of the illness, Stillwell said. "That's what we worry about with the number of people calling in," he said.

The Norwalk-like viruses, or noroviruses, cause illness in 23 million people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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