Hundreds hospitalized on Lake Garda due to severe norovirus outbreak causing diarrhea

Torri del Benaco, a popular Italian tourist spot on Lake Garda, is grappling with a significant outbreak of the norovirus. Italian media reports that over half of the town’s 3,000 residents have been affected, with more than 300 people requiring hospitalization. The onset of summer holidays in Torri del Benaco always brings a surge of tourists to the town, making it easier for a virus to quickly spread. Unfortunately, this is precisely what is happening with the highly contagious norovirus, causing severe diarrhea for one or two days.

The virus has escalated in recent days, affecting at least half of the town. Mayor Stefano Nicotra has taken precautions, prohibiting residents and tourists from using tap water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. It is suspected that the virus primarily spread through the drinking water, although food could also be a source. The high water levels of Lake Garda have put pressure on the sewage system, possibly leading to contaminated water entering the lake.

To address the issue, safe drinking water is being delivered from neighboring areas via large trucks to prevent any further complications. The city services are treating all water pipes with chlorine to eliminate bacteria and viruses. The hope is that this treatment, coupled with decreased rainfall to lower Lake Garda’s water level, will alleviate some of the problems introduced by the outbreak. This is the highest the water levels in Lake Garda have been since 1977.