100+ sick in virus outbreak

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

More than 100 people have now fallen sick following a suspected norovirus outbreak at two Vancouver-area hotels over the weekend.

Claudia Kurzac, Vancouver Coastal Health's manager for environmental health, says the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel were affected, although a confirmation of norovirus won't come until test results are back next week.

Steve Veinot, general manager of the Sheraton at the airport, says it is sanitizing all hard surfaces, kitchens, public spaces and guest rooms.

He says the hotel will not open until he is confident it is safe and the health authority gives the go ahead.

Veinot says the source of the virus hasn't been identified.

– The Canadian Press

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ORIGINAL: 6:30 a.m.

A norovirus outbreak has closed a major Richmond hotel as dozens of guests and staff have fallen ill.

The Sheraton Airport Hotel on Westminster Highway is shut down while it gets a deep clean, CTV News reports.

Vancouver Coastal Health says 40 guests and 40 staff became sick.

The neighbouring CAVU restaurant is also closed as it gets sanitized.

A food handler there who also worked at the Sheraton over the weekend and two bartenders also became ill.

Norovirus symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, cramping, chills and fever, says VCH.

– with files from CTV Vancouver