Two hospitalised after Hilton Glasgow ‘norovirus’ outbreak

The suspected outbreak has seen 24 guests and 14 members of staff suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea, with two guests admitted to Gartnavel General Hospital on Sunday. They are both believed to be in a stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

Seven guests who did not need hospital treatment were asked to stay in their rooms at the five-star hotel in a bid to control the outbreak.

The NHS Great Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has now launched an investigation into the outbreak, while the hotel has embarked on an extensive cleaning programme to limit the spread of the illness.

A spokesperson for Hilton Worldwide, said: “In response to the suspected viral infection Hilton Glasgow is following its own strict health and safety procedures, as well as working closely with the local health officials, and is providing all possible assistance to the hotel’s guests and team members.”

All symptomatic staff are remaining at home until well, although the hotel on William Street is still fully operational.

Hygiene procedures​

Dr Anne Scoular, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde public health consultant and chair of the Outbreak Control Team, said that while they awaited the results of samples taken from those affected, the symptoms were ‘very suggestive’ of the norovirus.
 
“We will continue our investigations to confirm the cause of the illness at the hotel and will monitor the situation very closely,” she said.
 
“A number of precautions have been undertaken by Hilton as part of its own health and safety procedures. All the appropriate infection control measures that we would expect are in place.
 
“This cleaning programme will continue to be implemented on a rolling basis to ensure that everything possible is being done to limit the spread of the illness. This will be monitored by Environmental Health Officers.

“We are satisfied with the precautions that have now been put in place to limit the spread of the illness."

The Fat Duck outbreak​

Last year an outbreak of the norovirus erupted at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck restaurant in Bray​, where over 400 cases of sickness and diarrhoea were reported. After an investigation by the Health Protection Agency, the cause was found to be partly from oysters contaminated by human sewage from source, and nothing to do with poor hygiene or food practices at the restaurant.

The incident however ended up costing Blumenthal more than £100k in lost bookings.