Latest news with #gastroenteritis
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise ship with gastroenteritis outbreak on board allowed to dock at tiny island town
Passengers on the Costa Favolosa cruise ship reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness during a seven-day Northern European voyage from Hamburg before docking in Lerwick, Shetland. NHS Shetland and the Lerwick Port Authority stated they were not informed of any public health issues before the ship's arrival on May 20. Shore excursions in Lerwick were cancelled after a guest was visibly sick, raising concerns about the potential impact on local businesses. Almost 3,000 passengers crowded Lerwick's town centre before businesses were alerted to the gastroenteritis outbreak on board. Lerwick Port Authority has since contacted involved parties to tighten procedures for reporting passenger health concerns before future port calls.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
3 gastroenteritis cases at Hong Kong hospital unrelated, investigation finds
A trio of suspected gastroenteritis cases at a Hong Kong hospital earlier this year, in which the death of a young doctor prompted concerns of an outbreak of a highly toxic strain of E coli, were unrelated, health authorities have found. The Centre for Health Protection also said in revealing the outcome of its investigation on Friday that the young oncologist who died had traces of a certain kind of rotavirus, rather than the previously thought Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC), but that his cause of death was 'uncertain'. An expert from the investigating team suggested it was the first time that a particular strain of the rotavirus had been detected in Hong Kong, but there was no evidence of a community outbreak. The death of the young doctor at Princess Margaret Hospital in February prompted concerns that an outbreak of the toxic strain had emerged after it was found in the stool sample of one of the doctors who suffered milder symptoms. 'Based on the available information, the [centre] confirmed that there was no STEC outbreak in the oncology department of [the hospital] and that there was no linkage between the illnesses of the three doctors,' it said. The investigation, which included an expert team from the department of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), found that a stool sample of the doctor who was suspected of having a STEC infection did not grow 'viable' bacteria of the infectious strain.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Fury as cruise ship hit by sickness bug outbreak allows passengers out on Shetland town
An Italian cruise line has come under fire after thousands of passengers exposed to a sickness bug were allowed to disembark in a town in Shetland. Passengers on board Costa Cruises Costa Favolosa ship had reported symptoms of 'mild gastrointestinal illness ' during a seven-day Northern European voyage from Hamburg before the vessel docked in Lerwick, Shetland, earlier this month. Both NHS Shetland and the Lerwick Port Authority said they had not been advised of any public health issues before the arrival of the cruise ship on 20 May. Dr Susan Laidlaw, director of Public Health at NHS Shetland, said that the body only received notification of illness on board Costa Favolosa 'through the Port Health route late in the afternoon of Tuesday 20 May'. 'However, we now understand that a small number of passengers with symptoms of gastroenteritis were being appropriately managed by the medical team on-board the vessel,' added Dr Laidlaw. Lerwick Port Authority added that 'vessels calling at the harbour are required to declare any concerns relating to passenger health' but on this occasion, the authority 'was not notified of any passenger ill-health on board the cruise ship Costa Favolosa '. Shore excursions for passengers in Lerwick were quickly cancelled by local operators when guests showed visible symptoms of a stomach bug. Sonia Robertson, managing director of R. Robertson and Son bus company, said that all island tours were stopped after a guest left a coach to be 'violently sick three times'. 'Something like this could have crippled the whole company and affect a lot of our staff and services,' she added, according to The Times. Almost 3,000 passengers crowded Lerwick's town centre before businesses were made aware that passengers had been taken ill with gastroenteritis on board. Celia Smith, owner of coffee shop Blyde Welcome, told The Shetland Times that locals had 'absolutely no warning' of the gastroenteritis breakout. She said: 'We could've been better prepared, we could've had more sanitiser and some businesses had face masks.' The 290-metre-long Costa Favolosa ship can carry almost 4,000 passengers. Dr Laidlaw advised hand washing and bleach-based cleaning products to help prevent the spread of gastrointestinal infections. Cruise operator Costa Cruises insisted that it had been permitted to dock in Lerwick. The cruise line said in a statement: 'During the May 15-22 cruise on Costa Favolosa, some guests reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms to the ship's medical centre. As a precaution, we immediately implemented enhanced disinfection and sanitation measures.' According to Lerwick Port Authority: 'The Authority has contacted parties involved, and agreed measures which will tighten up procedures ensuring documentation is completed correctly and timeously prior to a port call, to prevent recurrence.'
National Post
18-05-2025
- Health
- National Post
Fires prompt state of emergency in Northern Quebec community plagued by water shortage
A village in Quebec's Far North has declared a state of emergency after a fire ravaged two homes in the community, which is already struggling with a months-long water shortage. The municipal council for Puvirnituq, Que., an Inuit community in the Nunavik region, made the decision Saturday after crews struggled to contain a blaze that ignited at around 3 p.m. Article content Article content In a Facebook post late Saturday night, Mayor Lucy Qalingo said two homes were lost and that federal and provincial governments should 'stop ignoring' the needs of northern communities she characterized as 'forgotten Canadians.' The persistent water shortages in Puvirnituq prompted the Quebec government to begin evacuating patients from a health facility there earlier this week. Article content Its 2,100 residents have been without consistent water deliveries for about two months after a water main froze in a blizzard in mid-March. Article content The village has instead been forced to bring in water by truck in extreme weather on icy, snowy roads. Article content Quebec says the health centre has reported an increase in people seeking treatment for gastroenteritis amid the water shortage. Article content Ian Lafreniere, the minister responsible for Indigenous affairs, said in a statement on social media that fire crews indicate the water pipe should be restored 'shortly.' Article content He says some 54 tonnes of water have been hauled via overpass to the village and distributed to residents since Friday afternoon. Article content
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Erin Patterson trial: Leongatha Hospital doctor Veronica Foote details chef's effort to leave
Just five minutes after attending hospital and announcing 'I've got gastro', alleged mushroom killer Erin Patterson left the building against medical advice, a jury has been told. Two doctors working at the Leongatha Hospital in July 2023 gave evidence at Ms Patterson's murder trial on Tuesday. She has pleaded not guilty to murdering three of her in-laws with a poisoned beef Wellington lunch and the attempted murder of a fourth who recovered, arguing the incident was a tragic accident and not deliberate. Taking the stand, Dr Chris Webster told the jury he first encountered Ms Patterson in the waiting room of the hospital about 8am. 'I apologised that she had been kept waiting … and I asked her why she had presented to hospital,' he said. 'She said, 'I've got gastro'.' Dr Webster said he then recognised her as the 'chef of the meal' his two patients, Don and Gail Patterson, suspected had made them sick. He told the court he explained they would need to start 'emergency treatment of suspected death cap mushroom poisoning' and left her with a nurse to be triaged. But five minutes later, he said he learned, Ms Patterson had discharged herself against medical advice and he called triple-0 for a wellness concern. Another general practitioner at the hospital, Dr Veronica Foote, said she was approached by the nurse, Kylie Ashton, who advised her Ms Patterson wanted to leave. In two minutes of CCTV footage played to the jury, Dr Foote can be seen approaching Ms Patterson and standing between her and the exit as the pair talked. 'I talked to Ms Patterson and relayed our concerns for her health and the potential that she could become very unwell and that it was our medical advice that she stay and be further assessed and treated,' she said. 'She told me that she wasn't able to stay at that point in time. She had to go home to do some things … make some preparations for her animals and children and that she would return to the hospital.' Ultimately, Ms Patterson left the hospital at 8.10am after signing a form acknowledging she was self-discharging against medical advice. Ms Patterson returned at 9.48am the same day and was admitted into the hospital, the jury was told. Dr Foote said after Ms Patterson advised her two children had eaten leftovers of the meal, the meat with the mushrooms and pastry scrapped off, she was told they needed to be examined. Dr Foote said Ms Patterson wanted to leave and collect her children from school, but was advised against it. 'My advice was I thought she could become very unwell very quickly and that it was not safe for her or her children for her to drive them there and possibly other road users,' she said. The doctor suggested her husband, Simon Patterson, could pick up the children. 'Ms Patterson told me that she didn't think that that was in the best interests of her children,' she said. Dr Foote will return to the witness box when the trial resumes on Thursday morning. Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital in the week after the gathering. Ms Wilkinson's husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, fell gravely ill but recovered. Her barrister Colin Mandy SC told the jury Ms Patterson did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests. 'The defence case is that what happened was a tragedy, a terrible accident,' he said. The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.
