World
12:45, 12-Feb-2018
177 norovirus cases reported in PyeongChang, athletes not affected
["other"]
Share
Copied
A total of 177 cases of norovirus, which already wreaked havoc at last year's world athletics championships, have been confirmed at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, organisers said Monday.
No athlete has yet contracted the highly contagious virus however, the PyeongChang organisers (POCOG)
said.
POCOG said 19
new cases of the virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea had been confirmed as
of Sunday afternoon.
The virus broke out in the lead-up to the games opening ceremony in PyeongChang Friday
and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organisers had to call
in military personnel to replace them.
Of the 177 cases detected so far, 68 had recovered and had
been released from quarantine and returned to work at the Games, POCOG added.
An outbreak at last year's World
Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to
miss events.
POCOG has said several agencies are cooperating to stifle the
outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at
venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.
(Top picture: South Korean soldiers inspect a visitor at a security checkpoint as they replace security guards showing symptoms of the norovirus in Gangneung on February 6, 2018 ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Reuters