A norovirus outbreak is causing a stir in a small town on the shores of Lake Garda. Hundreds of people are affected. Residents feel they know too late.

Torre del Benaco – in fact, the small town of Torre del Benaco (Italy) Travelers with the picturesque city center and the stunning Castello Scaligero. But for now, it has spoiled not only the holiday break on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, but also the daily lives of about 3,000 residents. The reason for this is the digestive system virus that is widespread among a large part of the population.

Vomiting, nausea and fever: hundreds in Lake Garda suffer from severe digestive complaints

In the past few days, hundreds of people with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis have been hospitalized in Peschiera del Garda, the daily reported, among others. La RepubblicaThe victims suffered from vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and fever. The authorities decided that the fact that so many residents of the small town of Torri del Benaco were complaining of the symptoms could not be a coincidence.

The culprit was immediately identified: norovirus, which, according to media reports, had been detected in numerous stool samples taken from infected people. How El Journal At least 200 to 300 hundred people are said to have complained of severe symptoms. The symptoms can sometimes last for up to 60 hours. Noroviruses were also responsible for several illnesses at a spring festival in Germany a few months ago.

Mayor restricts tap water use – source of contamination unclear

The virus can be spread through contaminated water and food. In the case of the affected town on Lake Garda, the source of the widespread outbreak is also suspected to be the water supply. For this reason, the mayor of Torri del Benaco, Stefano Nicotra, has already issued a regulation prohibiting the use of drinking water for normal use. “Do not use it for personal or recreational use until further notice,” Nicotra wrote. Facebook.

Residents are urged to use only bottled water and adhere to strict hygiene measures. This includes washing your hands thoroughly and disinfecting surfaces. The water supply has been disinfected with chlorine as a precaution to prevent the spread of the virus.

However, the location of the contamination remains unclear and is currently undergoing laboratory analysis. She says it is suspected, among other things, that the recent rise in Lake Garda may have led to the contamination. RepublicaA popular beach on Lake Garda was recently closed due to bacteria contamination.

Widespread gastrointestinal virus outbreak: Residents express dissatisfaction with late warning

Many residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the authorities’ delay in informing them about the pollution. “Why did the authorities wait until today (note: Friday, June 28) before warning us?” asks Diana A., one of the affected residents Corriere del Veneto. Moreover: “I am very angry and I do not feel sufficiently protected. If I had not gone to the pharmacy, I would not have learned anything.”

Another woman who returned home with her newborn on Thursday, June 27, reported something similar. “Fortunately, my neighbor warned me and I avoided using tap water, but my partner who was home during those days had diarrhea and nausea,” she told the regional edition of the Xinhua news agency. Corriere della Sera. Some patients report that they experience symptoms for several days. One woman says that her family received complaints about ten days ago.

“We don’t know how to deal with incoming guests” – vacationers are also affected

There is also dissatisfaction in guest establishments: “We inform new guests, but we do not know how to deal with incoming guests,” says one hotel operator. Corriere. “In the pharmacy they say that half the city has digestive problems. We give tourists two bottles of water and recommend not using tap water,” says another accommodation operator.