Health officials have reportedly been supervising disinfection measures at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki Beach on Oahu, where an estimated 100 guests and staff recently came down with norovirus. The hotel voluntarily closed its kitchens for 72 hours as a precaution even though food wasn’t positively identified as the source. “We also know that there were multiple ill employees, not just one but multiple ill employees that all did work for a good amount of time in those kitchens, so anyone or probably all of them contaminated surfaces and each one of them could be linked to multiple patrons and guests and such,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. Reports of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting began Saturday, May 17, although health officials said no new reports of illness had occurred at the hotel since Monday, May 19. Those sickened received medical attention, and one person was reportedly hospitalized. Hotel spokeswoman Stephanie Dowling noted that was unclear whether that person actually had norovirus. Norovirus is a highly contagious illness typically lasting from 48 to 72 hours. It can be transmitted by someone who has it, by contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus at Waikiki Beach Hotel Sickens About 100 People
Health officials have reportedly been supervising disinfection measures at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki Beach on Oahu, where an estimated 100 guests and staff recently came down with norovirus. The hotel voluntarily closed its kitchens for 72 hours as a precaution even though food wasn’t positively identified as the source. “We also know that there were multiple ill employees, not just one but multiple ill employees that all did work for a good amount of time in those kitchens, so anyone or probably all of them contaminated surfaces and each one of them could be linked to multiple patrons and guests and such,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. Reports of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting began Saturday, May 17, although health officials said no new reports of illness had occurred at the hotel since Monday, May 19. Those sickened received medical attention, and one person was reportedly hospitalized. Hotel spokeswoman Stephanie Dowling noted that was unclear whether that person actually had norovirus. Norovirus is a highly contagious illness typically lasting from 48 to 72 hours. It can be transmitted by someone who has it, by contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.