Vegas illness cases easing off

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

The number of new cases of reported gastrointestinal illness linked to Las Vegas visits dropped to the lowest level in recent weeks of disease tracking, Nevada officials said yesterday.

Clark County Health District spokesman Dave Tonelli said only 32 new cases were reported last week. In previous weeks, the number of new cases sometimes exceeded 100. The number of cases reported since December now stands at 1,581.

The outbreak has been linked to the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, although some cases have been reported by people who did not visit there.

Most of those who have become ill are from Hawai'i, Tonelli said. That reflects the desert resort's unofficial designation as Hawai'i's favorite vacation destination and the specific popularity of the California, which caters to Island visitors.

The number of cases covers illnesses reported between Dec. 3, 2003, and March 26, Tonelli said.

He said that count includes people who phoned in their symptoms: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that prevented them from taking part in everyday activity.

For most people, the illness goes away after a day or two of extreme discomfort, but some people have sought medical help from emergency rooms and even been hospitalized.

Boyd Gaming Co,, which owns the California, has responded with ramped-up cleaning, including the use of hospital-grade disinfectants and reminders to visitors to wash their hands frequently, especially after using the restroom and before eating.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell said the lower numbers reflect the efforts by the hotel to deal with the problem. "We are very encouraged in that it was the third straight week of declines," he said.

Stillwell said the hotel has lost "minimal" business because of the illness. He believes that the called-in reports may make the outbreak look more severe than it is. "These are not confirmed noroviruses," he said.

The hotel plans to continue the stepped-up cleaning, according to Stillwell. "One sick guest is one sick guest too many," he said.

Tonelli, the county health spokesman, said Nevada officials will classify the outbreak as being over when the number of cases drops to two or three each week for a one-month period.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.