About 100 guests and workers at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel fell sick from an infectious virus — called norovirus — about two weeks ago, and hotel officials said the number appears to have decreased significantly.
But two new reports of similar symptoms around the middle of last week prompted state health officials to personally supervise disinfection measures at the hotel.
The kitchen was shut down voluntarily by the hotel until Wednesday because it was a possible point of infection. The new cases have not been confirmed as resulting from norovirus.
"We’ve intensified our efforts," state epidemiologist Sarah Park said Monday. "Hopefully, this last … cleaning will help to curtail it. We can’t have this continuing."
Park said state sanitation employees were supervising the cleaning at the hotel Monday.
Royal Hawaiian spokeswoman Stephanie Dowling said the hotel is deeply sorry that a number of its guests and employees reported illnesses that the state confirmed were due to norovirus.
"These individuals received all required medical attention," Dowling said. "One guest was hospitalized, and we don’t have information as to whether that was directly due to this illness."
Park said closing of the kitchen was a precautionary measure to halt any potential spread of the virus through the food service itself.
Park said the illness lasts from 48 to 72 hours, and the closure of the kitchen allows for enough time for food service staff to recuperate if they’re ill. She said those involved in food service should stay home if they feel ill.
Dowling said the hotel voluntarily closed the only kitchen for 72 hours to ensure the virus is eliminated.
"We have taken every step necessary," she said.
Park said the norovirus, able to be transmitted by an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces, is "very hardy" in the environment and doesn’t take a lot to spread.
The virus causes the stomach, intestines or both to get inflamed, leading to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC said the norovirus causes 19 million to 21 million illnesses annually and contributes to 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations.
Those most affected by the virus are infants and young children who suffer dehydration during the illness, and older adults with underlying medical conditions, the CDC said.
So far, Park said, mostly adults have come down with the illness.
She said the illness probably started the week before last and that Royal Hawaiian managers called early on the weekend of May 16 to report the outbreak,
"They have been very helpful and appropriately concerned," Park said. "The managers have been very helpful and want to do the right thing."
