Norovirus is hitting Lake Garda
In Torri del Benaco, many residents are suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. An outbreak of norovirus is to blame.
Lake Garda attracts millions of tourists every year with its picturesque landscape.
Photo: Getty Images
Residents of the village of Torri del Benàco, which has about 3,000 inhabitants, are being admitted to the hospital in Peschiera del Garda with similar symptoms. They all complain of severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, cramps or fever. Because the authorities were concerned about such a large number of sick people, stool samples were taken and norovirus was found. The source of this is currently being investigated.
Record high water level
The high water level may have caused the rapid spread, which has affected 200 to 300 people so far. Mayor Stefano Nicotra has warned about drinking water from the municipal network. First they want to examine the water from Lake Garda Síochána. The viruses can spread through contaminated food or water. It could also be that the reason lies in one of the aquifers that are part of the water supply, writes Nicotra in a Facebook post.
Not the first outbreak
The heavy rainfall in the region may also affect the wastewater systems of nearby communities, ie writes the Italian newspaper “Il Giornale”. There were already norovirus outbreaks in Lombardy and Trentino in April.
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