Number of gastroenteritis cases rises to 100

THE number of people suffering from gastroenteritis has risen to 100, and four of them had to be admitted to hospìtal for treatment.
All the victims reported stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea. The problem has been attributed to oysters consumed at a seafood fair held in Palma between November 28 and last Tuesday. However, the health authorities will send samples to Madrid for analysis on Monday, to confirm the source of the outbreak. The ministry opened an investigation as soon as the first cases were reported and has asked the organisers of the fair, which was visited by 30'000 people, to present all its papers connected with suppliers. A spokeswoman for the fair rejected claims that oysters or shellfish were to blame, or that the shellfish could have gone off because of delays caused by the port blockade. The spokeswoman said that if the shellfish had been off, there would have been thousands of victims, including herself, as she had eaten oysters every day. She said that the gasto-enteritis could have been caused by a virus, the heat, or the fact that some people are not used to eating oysters and may be allergic to them.