Woman dies after virus outbreak at wedding reception
Victim among 51 struck down by bug at wedding
Published:
A WOMAN has died after a virus outbreak at an Aberdeenshire wedding reception.
The victim was one of 51 people struck down by the winter vomiting bug – Norovirus – at Maryculter House Hotel.
NHS Grampian’s Health Protection Team and Aberdeenshire Council’s Environmental Health Department were called in to investigate.
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman confirmed the sickness and diarrhoea had been linked to the “community acquired viral infection”.
She stressed it was not connected with the hotel.
The spokeswoman said: “Fifty-one individuals have been symptomatic. There have been no hospital admissions.
“Unfortunately, one elderly lady with an underlying medical problem who attended the wedding, has subsequently died.”
Around 200 guests were attending the wedding celebration of Insch couple Steven and Fiona Smith on Saturday, November 1, at Maryculter House Hotel.
A hotel spokeswoman said: “We have had no formal complaints from any of our customers.”
Norovirus symptoms usually last for about three days.
The bug is found where people are in a closed environment, such as hospitals, schools, residential homes and on cruise ships.
Earlier this year an outbreak of Norovirus led to wards being shut at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Woodend and Fraserburgh hospitals.
Last winter, reported cases of Norovirus hit a five-year high in the UK with an estimated 100,000 cases a week at its peak.
The NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “As always, anyone suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea should not attend work, school or public gatherings until 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.”
