The Southern Health Board's team investigating cases of gastrointestinal illness which occurred last week at a hotel in Co Kerry believe the outbreak may have been caused by a virus, the board said yesterday.
Some 20 people attached to the Brandon Hotel in Tralee were taken ill and one guest was hospitalised. Symptoms included vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, the board's Outbreak Control Team has found.
According to the director of the Brandon, Mr Peter McDermott, the illness became apparent shortly after a coach tour arrived from the UK on Monday week last. The illness was mostly confined to the party and to waiting staff and others who had direct contact with them.
There were around 1,000 guests in the Brandon, Mr McDermott said.
The Southern Health Board said this was the latest in a number of such outbreaks this year. "While it is too early in the investigation to establish a cause, it may well be viral in origin. There have been several outbreaks of viral gastrointestinal illness in the SHB region already this year," a board spokeswoman said.
The health board saw no reason to advise the party not to travel on or warn the following hotel as doctors felt they had recovered from their illness. Samples are still being taken from food and people in the hotel. Health board staff were also examining the condition of the premises.
Last January, 120 cases of a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness were reported at the Killarney Ryan Hotel over the New Year holiday period. That illness was later found to have been viral, probably introduced by a guest or a small party of guests. The hotel closed voluntarily to carry out disinfectant procedures.
Mr McDermott said the question of closing the Brandon Hotel had not arisen. The bedrooms used by the affected party were rigorously cleaned and fumigated and put back into use only after approval by the health board, he said.