15 sick: Norovirus strikes in NZ play area affects 15

At least 15 people have become ill after contracting a virus from the children’s play area of a Tauranga ten pin bowling venue.

tumblr_inline_mk7cmgis031qz4rgpToi Te Ora – Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Jim Miller said, in a written statement, the service had been notified of cases of norovirus gastroenteritis in at least nine preschool and primary aged children and six adults earlier this month.

He confirmed those affected had picked up the bug from the children’s play area of a Tauranga ten pin bowling venue.

Mr Miller said the virus would most likely have been spread through person-to-person contact after exposure to an ill person.

Toi Te Ora investigated the outbreak and had since given the bowling alley advice on dealing with diarrhoea and vomiting episodes on the premises and effective cleaning, he said.

A request for further information, including the name of the bowling alley, and if any victims had been hospitalised was not answered by the time the Bay of Plenty Times went to print.

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A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time