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Officials investigate outbreak of diarrhea, vomiting PDF Print E-mail
Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com   
Thursday, 24 May 2012 17:15

UPDATED 5-26-12: The Turks and Caicos Islands Health Surveillance team is investigating a recent outbreak of diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting on Providenciales among more than 100 people who stayed in or dined at local resorts over the last several weeks.

On May 26, the Ministry of Health and Education (MOHE) and Environmental Health Department (EHD) confirmed that tests results for one individual confirmed the presence of Norovirus, a highly contagious viral illness which is common in outbreaks of gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) throughout the world. It can be transmitted from person to person, through contact with vomitus or feces of infected individuals, consumption of contaminated food or water, contact with soiled surfaces and bed linens etc. Other than supportive therapy, norovirus usually requires little by way of medical interventions and usually resolves without incident.
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"The MOHE and EHD would like to emphasize that at this time norovirus cannot be confirmed as the cause of the current outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting based on this one positive result," the statement said. "Investigations of the Public Health Team are ongoing, in collaboration with the Caribbean Epidemiology Center and Pan American Health Organization, the global experts in outbreak investigation."

One foursome staying on Providenciales in a private villa told the fp that they were stricken with the illness — which hospital officials told them was some kind of virus — after eating at a restaurant in a hotel on Grace Bay. One woman became so ill she had to be hospitalized and receive intravenous fluids to overcome the symptoms.

Grace Bay Club announced May 24 that it has stopped accepting reservations until June 1 to sanitize the resort.

“Currently, Grace Bay Club is providing hand sanitizers throughout the resort to all guests and staff, and all public spaces, kitchens, restaurants, plumbing systems and guest rooms are being thoroughly sanitized with bleach according to the safety standards of the Department of Environmental Health,” the resort said.

“Additionally, Grace Bay Club is providing medical assistance to affected guests, alerting current and future guests of the situation and offering them the option to adjust existing reservations without penalty. Once all guests depart the resort, a more extensive, full-property sanitization will take place.”

Sources tell the fp that Grace Bay Club was not the only resort where guests had the symptoms and that more than 100 people have been treated since April.

The government health team would not say how many have been affected pending the outcome of its investigation.

“We have deployed our public health teams to assess, to identify and report on the situation utilizing CAREC and PAHO/World Health Organization guidelines,” the Ministry of Health and Education said in a statement May 22. “Our top priority is to protect the public as well as the tourism industry from any further illness by containing this outbreak.”

The team asks that anyone who experiences the symptoms to report to any health care facility for evaluation and treatment. Those people may be interviewed in confidence to help pinpoint the source of the outbreak.

People who were affected by the illness can contact the team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 649-941-8316.  

For more information on norovirus, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/norovirus.

The ministry says hand washing is the single most important preventative measure to decrease the risk of infection. Hand washing should be frequent and thorough (scrub soap into hands for at least 15 seconds before rinsing, then dry with paper towels, a clean towel or blower).

The public is advised to:

  • Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before eating
  • Carefully wash all tinned food products before opening
  • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, especially:
    • before preparing and or eating meals
    • after using the toilet
    • after being out in the public
    • after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
    • after handling trash or garbage
    • before treating a cut or wound
    • if you have been around someone who is ill

 

If you become ill:

  • Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and the need for medical attention
  • Drink bottled water or water that has been boiled
  • Drink clear liquids such as Gatorade and clear soup
  • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly

If You Have Nausea/ Vomiting/ Diarrhea and or cramping:

  • Report to the nearest health care facility
  • Stay at home until your symptoms have resolved and follow your health care providers instructions

 

 

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Last Updated on Friday, 08 June 2012 16:04
 

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