South-western German city of Stuttgart on Wednesday said that over 300 people fell ill with gastrointestinal complaints after visiting a spring folk festival in the city.

The city describes the incident as a major outbreak, as all those affected had visited the same festival tent and afterwards complained of vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

The operator of the affected tent, Karl Maier, suspected that the norovirus infection was caused by guests, the local newspaper Heilbronner Stimme reported.

Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus and sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis.

“Obviously someone brought us the norovirus,” Maier said. An infected group or several infected people had visited the tent on Saturday and infected other visitors.

According to Maier, the wave of infections occurred on Saturday and “no new cases had been reported since then.”

There has never been any complaint about hygiene or food, Maier told a newspaper. “We are subject to the strictest controls.”

The city is in contact with Maier and has already tightened the hygiene measures, it reported. “We are doing everything in our power,” the festival organiser was quoted as saying.

However, the tent may remain open, according to a city spokesman, who added that the operator has been very co-operative.

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, noroviruses has now been detected in stool samples from two patients.

The Health Department of the state of Baden-Württemberg, of which Stuttgart is the capital, is already in close professional dialogue with the city’s own health department.

Stool samples from sick people are currently being analysed for intestinal pathogens in the laboratory of the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office.

The State Health Office said it is also in close contact with the Stuttgart Chemical and Veterinary Examination Offices (CVUA).

Analyses of food samples have been started at the CVUA. All health authorities in the south-west and the Robert Koch Institute have been informed of the outbreak via the State Health Office, the Ministry of Social Affairs also announced.

The symptoms pointed to a viral disease, the city had previously stated. There were increasing indications that it was the norovirus. Among those affected were both visitors to the festival and employees of the affected tent.

The food control and health authorities were on site immediately after the first reports arrived and checked the hygiene in the tent and took samples of the food.

The main task now is to contain the outbreak and find the source of the infections, with the focus on the central service areas of the tent.

Noroviruses cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and are very contagious and spread rapidly, especially in places where many people come together, such as nurseries, old people’s homes or hospitals.

An infection is usually short and severe. Those affected feel weak; often have abdominal pain, headaches and aching limbs, and sometimes a slight fever.

The local authority advised those affected to contact the public health department and their GP.

Sick people should follow the recommended hygiene measures to prevent further spread.

The 84th Stuttgart Spring Festival began on Saturday with the traditional tapping of a beer keg.

The festival lasts for 23 days and includes amusement rides, vendor stalls, snack bars and festival tents for music, beer and other drinks.

Organisers expect at least 1 million visitors to attend the festival, after more than 1.4 million people attended last year’s event. (NAN)

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