“We finally went to the sea, but on the third day my daughter started vomiting. This took six hours. Soon we all contracted the virus. The holidays were ruined. Later I found out that I’m not the only one,” begins one of the stories that the sick tourists confided to the journalists of Jutarnje List. Tourists who were looking for their bit of holiday happiness in Zadar’s four-star hotel Falkensteiner Borik are reporting diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms that could indicate rotavirus infection. As one of the patients said, their symptoms lasted for 24 hours in adults, while the child suffered from the mysterious disease for more than a week. While the child’s symptoms were fairly mild, the adults experienced severe pain in addition to the aforementioned problems.
Although a dozen people who stayed at the hotel in July and August spoke to the media about similar problems, epidemiologists in Zadar see no signs of an epidemic. As they say, the number of people suffering from rotavirus this year is within the usual annual framework, and they point out that it is not actually known what caused the tourists to feel bad, as they were not tested for rotavirus. In the hotel, rotavirus was confirmed some time ago in one of the guests, followed by an inspection visit and tightening of sanitary measures. The State Inspectorate also organized an examination of the staff, but this showed that all those who could in any way transmit the infection to the guests were completely healthy.
The children’s playground is closed “due to the epidemic”. PHOTO: Falkensteiner Borik
Feces in the sea
The outbreak of rotavirus could be connected to the discharge of faeces into the sea, which has been reported in the media since mid-July. The pollution has been going on for months, and tourists are plagued with health problems. Yesterday, the Administrative Department for Spatial Planning, Environmental Protection and Communal Affairs of Zadar County announced that until further notice, swimming at Marex Beach in the center of Zadar is not recommended.
Dangerous for small children
According to NIJZ, rotavirus is transmitted “from hand to mouth”. It often occurs in the form of epidemics. The virus is transmitted by contact to food, water, objects and people. It gets over without special treatment and is mostly harmless except for small children. If you think you are ill, it is important to drink enough water and electrolytes throughout the illness.
The hotel is keeping quiet about the alleged rotavirus epidemic among their guests. Although the staff informally informs the guests about the large number of diseases, no one warns the newcomers. The only sign that all is not as it should be, as one of the guests observes, is a sign on the children’s playhouse warning that the playhouse is closed due to an epidemic. “This seems strange to me for August 2023, when measures against the corona have become a thing of the past,” the guest thinks.
Locals haven’t visited it for a long time. PHOTO: Amilat, Getty Images
According to Zadrčani, the place of infection is most likely the beach near the hotel, where hotel guests usually go. Locals have been avoiding this beach for a long time because, as one of the locals reported, the sand there stinks and is more silt than sand. The beach does not belong to the hotel.
The Epidemiological Department of the Croatian Institute of Public Health believes that epidemiologists in Zadar have the best insight into the situation. “Intestinal infections are quite common in the summer, but in most cases they are relatively short and pass without the need for any therapy or diagnostics. There can be many causes, but often they are viruses,” they say.
In the summer, intestinal infections are quite common, but in most cases they pass quickly and without the need for any therapy.
Tags: Rotavirus spreading among tourists Zadar locals avoid beach big
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