Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 75

www.ctvvancouverisland.ca https VICTORIA — Dozens of university students from across the country have been isolated in the Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites since Saturday night, when they started getting sick seemingly all at once. 360 student journalists were attending a conference that was all set to wrap up with a Saturday night gala at UVic. But for many, the celebration was spoiled on the shuttle bus trip from downtown. “We started sending delegates on buses around 9pm, and had reports of people getting sick on the buses, so that obviously spread it around” says Emma Godmere, who became ill early Sunday morning. By midnight, BC Ambulance set up a triage at the hotel, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority advised anyone who was sick to stay in their rooms. Some went to hospital but weren’t there for long. “The last thing we want in our hospitals is norovirus” says VIHA Chief Medical Officer Richard Stanwick. The outbreak has affected at least 75 people including housekeepers at the Harbour Towers who had stepped up cleaning in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. VIHA stopped short of setting up an official quarantine because although it’s extremely unpleasant, norovirus will not seriously harm someone who is relatively healthy. “The last time I put people into quarantine was for the SARS risk on the island 10 years ago” adds Stanwick. Many students were scheduled to fly home Sunday and Monday, and some who were apparently still sick boarded planes. One …