For the second time in less than a year a major outbreak of the norovirus has been confirmed at a Las Vegas hotel.
Several hundred employees and guests at the
Flamingo Las Vegas have come down with the bug over the last few weeks, exhibiting flu-like symptoms including headaches, vomiting and diarrhea.
For most people, the virus is not serious, usually passing within a couple of days. But it can be dangerous for people with compromised immune systems or other serious health problems.
The owners and staff of the hotel are working with health officials to contain the outbreak, although with a virus like this one that's not always easy. Norovirus is spread easily by contact with surfaces where it is present. Simply put, if someone infected touches something and then you touch it, you could get it. So picture all of those bathrooms, door handles and a couple thousand slot machine handles.
The virus thrives in semi-contained environments like hotels and cruise ships, making headlines occasionally when a boat full of people has to come back early because everyone has gotten sick.
Employees and guests at the Flamingo are being asked to be meticulous about washing their hands after touching surfaces and the staff is replacing some reusable items such as ice buckets in the rooms with disposable versions. In addition, the entire hotel is getting a good scrub with chemically treated cleansers designed to get rid of just such problems.
Similar measures were put in place after an outbreak at the
California Hotel in downtown Las Vegas earlier this year, and the spread of the virus was curbed.
Although health officials are trying to assure the public that the risk is minimal to begin with -- a few hundred people sickened out of the tens of thousands who have passed through the hotel -- and by taking some easy precautions the risk is even lower, many people are choosing not to stay at the Flamingo until the threat has passed. The hotel is allowing current guests to check out early at no penalty, often finding them alternative lodging.
People with upcoming reservations can switch to one of the other Caesars Entertainment properties with no penalty as well if rooms are available.
The Full Story
In Next Week's Column
Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.
Plus, don't forget to
send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!
Click
here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.
