New cases of Las Vegas norovirus decline
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The number of people who have reported getting gastrointestinal illnesses from visits to Las Vegas since Dec. 3 climbed to 1,475 last week, according to Nevada health officials.
But Clark County Health District spokesman Dave Tonelli said the latest statistics show that the number of new stomach-flu-like illnesses has been declining for three weeks. From March 13 to 19, the number of new illnesses was 50, but from March 5 to 12 it was 103 and from Feb. 27 to March 4 it was 173, he said.
The stomach-flu-like illnesses are related to a norovirus outbreak linked primarily to the California Hotel and Casino, a favorite among visitors from Hawai'i, many of whom frequently visit on inexpensive package tours.
Tonelli said health officials there will classify the outbreak as over when there has been a sustained decline in the number of complaints each week for one month. That coincides with the length of time that noroviruses can survive on various surfaces: handles, counters, doorknobs, etc.
The illness, which usually shows up as fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, has inconvenienced many, ruined vacations and even put some people in the hospital. Because it's a virus, health officials said there are no treatments or medications to cure it. The illness usually goes away after a day or two but people can remain contagious for up to a week after they first get sick.
Some people who got sick months ago continue to notify Clark County as they learn that their illness matches a pattern. Noriko Miyoshi of Mililani said she and her husband went to Las Vegas for Super Bowl Sunday. They arrived Jan. 29 and she got sick shortly after the party at the California hotel on Feb. 1.
Miyoshi said she got so ill that her husband eventually took her to a local hospital. "I had to wait about three hours," she said. The hospital eventually gave her an intravenous injection because she was so dehydrated. She went back to the hotel the following day and was able to fly home that Tuesday.
She said she and her husband usually travel there three or four times a year. But she's taking a break. "I'm so scared. I don't want to go now," she said. At first, she thought she had food poisoning, but when they returned, she went back to helping care for her 4-month-old grandson, who then got sick with the same symptoms and so did his parents.
Now Miyoshi realizes that she and her husband may have brought the disease home with them.
A team of communicable disease specialists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention arrived last week in Las Vegas to help Clark County officials with the investigation. A community-wide outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness was first reported there Nov. 7.
The health officials have compiled statistics from several sources: reports from Boyd Gaming Co., owner of the California Hotel; hospital reports, doctor's office reports and direct reports from the public. The numbers come from people who visited or stayed at the hotel after Dec. 3 and became ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea during or immediately after their visit.
Reports can be phoned in to (702) 383-1378.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
