Norovirus Tests Underway for Event at Hilton Westchester

Westchester County Health Department officials may be getting Norovirus test results back Wednesday. The Health Department wants to know if it was indeed Norovirus that sickened a number of people at Pelham Picture House's "Big Night Spring Gala" and other events that were held at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook on April 20.

Some media reports say as many as "hundreds" of people experienced diarrhea and vomiting after attending events at the Hilton Westchester, however, the Health Department is not estimating the number of people who fell ill at this point.

Right now, the Health Department is treating the outbreak of illness as if it is indeed Norovirus. Officials say the hotel is doing everything they can to prevent it from spreading more.

"The hotel has gone above and beyond to address this and is cooperating fully with the Health Department. Health Department inspectors were on site all weekend and continue to monitor the situation this week," said the Department's Director of Public Health Information and Communication Caren Halbfinger.

Some of the precautions workers are taking at Hilton Westchester include all kitchen workers, servers and cleaning staff using gloves. All touch screens in the hotel are now disabled, and all common areas have undergone a special cleaning by an outside contractor. In addition, hand sanitizer is available throughout the entire hotel.

Westchester County Health Department officials have some advice for
the people who think that they may have contracted Norovirus.

"In general, to prevent Norovirus from spreading, we encourage people who are feeling sick not to attend events and not to go to work or school," said Halbfinger.