Norovirus at a luxury collection hotel: The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki

Stephanie Dowling, spokesperson for Starwood Hawaii told eTN: “Our immediate priority was contacting the Hawaii state Department of Health, containment of the virus, and ensuring that our sick guests and associates were cared for and received medical assistance. More than 100 were sick and the state Department of Health has been investigating the source and how it entered the hotel.”

Not exactly what a tourist visiting or staying at the legendary Royal Hawaiian Hotel would have had in mind, but the Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel did what is expected from a leading international resort. Almost a hundred Hawaii visitors that had dined at the hotel restaurant got sick.

The illness was diagnosed as the norovirus. Hotel officials contacted the Hawaii health authorities immediately and arranged for treatment.

Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Anyone can be infected and get sick from the norovirus. Also, you can have the norovirus illness many times in your life. The norovirus illness can be serious, especially for young children and older adults.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States.

Hawaii State officials have been supervising disinfection measures at the Royal Hawaiian hotel.

The hotel issued this statement:

The Royal Hawaiian is deeply sorry that a number of our guests and associates reported illnesses that the State Department of Health confirmed were due to norovirus. We contacted the Department of Health immediately and worked to notify guests and employees who could have been affected. All individuals who were reporting symptoms were given access to medical attention. Providing a safe environment is the essence of our business, and we have been following all protocols to clean all areas of possible contamination multiple times. There are no new confirmed cases of the illness being reported. As an additional precautionary measure, the hotel voluntarily closed the only kitchen that was affected for 72 hours to ensure the virus was completely eliminated and that we took every step necessary.