Hundreds of people, both holidaymakers and locals, are currently affected by the norovirus outbreak on Lake Garda. Using tap water is largely impossible. There is now a first suspicion of how such an outbreak could have occurred.
Noroviruses spread through contaminated water or food, and person-to-person infections are also possible. In recent days, 300 people from Torri del Benaco have been hospitalized. “Half of the town is suffering from gastrointestinal problems,” one resident wrote on Facebook.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
50 people were admitted to the emergency rooms of hospitals in Peschiera del Garda, Villafranca, Bussolengo and Malcesine due to symptoms of gastroenteritis such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. No one had to be hospitalized afterwards.
Other people contacted family doctors or local pharmacies for similar symptoms. Local health authorities subsequently banned the use of tap water for drinking. Bottled water was distributed in affected communities.
Pollution from storms?
There is now a theory about the origins of the outbreak. It is suspected that the sewerage system is overloaded and that the pollution was caused by the recent floods. The waste water could have been flushed into Lake Garda. Following heavy rainfall, the lake is currently transporting significantly more water than normal at this time of year.
The problems with the water supply also cause problems, especially in the fully booked hotels, which had to fetch water for their customers. The wave of gastroenteritis has not spared the municipal council of Torri del Benaco. Several officers and local police officers were unavailable due to nausea and police officers from other communities had to assist.
A similar outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred last April in the mountain town of Ponte di Legno in the Lombardy province of Brescia, where traces of norovirus were found in drinking water. However, the number of infected people was limited at the time.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
