Water used for cooking identified as probably cause of Olympic norovirus outbreak
Authorities have confirmed 194 cases of a norovirus outbreak that affected security staff at the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Food safety protocol has been identified as the probable culprit, as cooking water in a lodging facility was found to have been contaminated. Of those made ill by the contaminated water, 47 are still in quarantine. The foodborne norovirus did not impact any Olympic athletes.
Just prior to the start of the Winter Olympic games, security staff began to fall ill with what was then thought to be a stomach virus. After further investigation, it was determined that a food safety issue probably caused the illnesses. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just recently released an interim report in which it identified cooking water at a facility in PyeongChang, the host city for the Olympics, as possibly being contaminated.
Food safety procedures have since been tightened in the Olympic dining halls and athlete villages, to prevent further spread of the norovirus. Foodborne norovirus originates in contaminated food or water but then spreads quickly, as it is extremely contagious. Norovirus is common on cruise ships, where many people are packed into a small, confined area.
Norovirus symptoms include inflammation in the stomach and digestive system, which leads to severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. There is no antibiotic for the norovirus; victims are generally advised to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of clean water, to combat dehydration that may occur as a result of the norovirus symptoms.
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