1,200 Winter Olympic Guards Withdrawn Over Virus Outbreak
Out of the group, 41 suffered a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea on Sunday.
Highlights
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Over 1,200 security guards have been withdrawn from the Winter Olyimpics
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They have been withdrawn because of a norovirus outbreak
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Health authorities are investigating the origin of the virus
Over 1,200 security guards have been withdrawn from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics because of a norovirus outbreak, organisers said on Tuesday. Out of the group, 41 suffered a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea on Sunday. They were transferred to hospital and most were diagnosed with a norovirus infection. Norovirus is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination.
"The 1,200-odd people were pulled out from their duties," an official of the Pyeongchang Olympic Organizing Committee told AFP. "They were replaced by some 900 military soldiers."
Health authorities were investigating the origin of the virus, he said.Â
The security guards, all employees from a security company, had been accommodated at a youth training centre in Pyeongchang, separate from the athletes' village.Â
The XXIII Olympic Winter Games will be held for 17 days from 9 to 25 February 2018 in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, the Republic of Korea. PyeongChang was selected as the host city of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games after receiving a majority vote at the 123rd IOC Session held on 6 July 2011.
(With AFP Inputs)