Nearly 100 Kids And Adults Get Sick With Suspected Stomach Virus During Vegas Trip For National Youth Football ChampionshipsHealth
Officials are suspecting a stomach virus is to blame as at least 90 kids and parents became ill in Las Vegas.
The kids and adults are in the city Vegas for the National Youth Football Championships, according to The New York Daily News, which reported that members and parents from at least nine teams have been hit by the virus and suffered flu-like symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting.
The illness has caused many to be sent to the hospital.
KTNV noted that nearly two dozen people were transported from the Rio casino and hotel to the hospital after reporting flu-like symptoms on Friday.
"I was very scared because I really didn't know what was going on," Alastair Jones, coach of the Santa Monica Vikings Tiny Mites and parent of a sick 7-year-old son, said.
"We just want to figure out what it is," another parent Annalisa Johnson stated. "We're just scared because we don't know what it is."
A spokesman for the Southern Nevada Health District confirmed on Saturday that investigators suspect that a stomach virus caused the outbreak but are continuing to investigate, NBC News reported.
Despite the illnesses, the games were reportedly proceeding as scheduled, but event organizers were reportedly putting procedures in place to try to prevent further spread of the virus, including banning the traditional pre-game and post-game handshakes.
Sources: New York Daily News, KTNV, NBC News
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