Virus may have caused D & V outbreak

2 December 2009

The Health Protection Agency, NHS Sefton and Environmental Health Officers from Sefton Council are investigating an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea amongst guests and staff in the Scarisbrick Hotel in Southport.

The hotel's management and staff are cooperating fully with the investigation and the hotel has closed voluntarily as a precautionary measure.

Dr. Evdokia Dardamissis, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the HPA's Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Unit, said: "It's too early to say what caused the outbreak, but the early evidence suggests that it may have been a virus of the norovirus type spreading amongst the guests and staff.

"These are nasty infections, but the illness is generally of short duration and people who are otherwise fit and healthy will usually make a complete recovery. There is no specific treatment apart from letting the symptoms run their course and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. This is particularly important for the very young and the elderly.

"If symptoms persist or appear to be getting worse, call your doctor or phone NHS Direct, for health advice anytime of the day or night."

The NHS Direct number is 0845-4647.

Dr. Dardamissis stressed that good hygiene is the key to avoiding infection. This includes thorough hand washing, especially after using the toilet, before and after handling or preparing food and before eating.

Contaminated surfaces should be thoroughly disinfected after an episode of illness and the patient should not prepare food for others until three days after the symptoms have cleared up.

Notes to editors

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906505.

Last reviewed: 8 December 2009