Peterborough: Norovirus Shuts Water Park

30 July 2012, 16:55 | Updated: 30 July 2012, 17:10

Tests have confirmed the presence of Norovirus caused children who used a Peterborough to fall ill.

Peterborough City Council temporarily closed Bretton Water Park last Friday (27 July) after a number of reports of children falling ill after going into the water.

A number of tests have been carried out into what caused the children to get sick, which have confirmed an outbreak of Norovirus at the water park.

It's believed the virus got into the water when a child who was already infected visited the park.

The water park is expected to remain closed until further tests have been carried out.

A spokeswoman for Peterborough City Council said: "Tests have confirmed that the cause of the outbreak at Bretton Water Park was norovirus.

Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) and is highly infectious. 

Our Environmental Health Officers are continuing to work closely with colleagues at Enterprise Peterborough and our advice at this time is that the park should remain closed until further checks have been carried out. 

It is highly probable that the virus originated with a child or children attending the park who were already infected. 

We are keen for the park to re-open at the earliest possible date, however we will only do so when we can be sure that it is safe. 

Public health and safety remains our main priority. 

We would also like to stress that it is important that people who feel unwell do not visit public swimming pools or water parks to reduce the risk of spreading infection."

People usually recover from the illness fully within 2-3 days, however members of the public who have concerns about their child's health should ring NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or contact their GP for advice. 

The advice from the Health Protection Agency is that anyone with symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting should not use public swimming or paddling pools until they have been well for 48 hours.