According to the Orlando Sentinel, an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness has sickened several dozen guests at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Guests who were sickened stayed at the hotel and attended a conference between June 29 and July 7.
Public health officials at the Orange County Health Department think it is too early to tell whether the illnesses were food poisoning or caused by a virus such as norovirus. Most of those sickened were adults. One employee and several children have also experienced symptoms of the illness.
The name of the conference has not been released. Marriott is cooperating fully with the investigation and with the Health Department, according to the report.
If the outbreak is caused by a virus, it is most likely norovirus, which is very contagious and causes symptoms similar to food poisoning. The symptoms in this particular outbreak include vomiting and diarrhea and lasted for 24 to 48 hours, which is consistent with norovirus. Norovirus is one of the most common causes of viral gastroenteritis and is transmitted person-to-person, through surface contact, and through food and drink. It is most common in the winter months, when people spend more time together in enclosed spaced.
