Newlyweds Harriet and Rob Kennedy had promised to like one another ‘through sickness and health’ – they only didn’t think their vow can be tested this quickly.
The Lancaster couple were on their honeymoon on the £300-a-night Valmar hotel when Rob, 26, was struck by a norovirus bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Harriet Kennedy, 28, told Metro that guests were dropping like flies on the five-star resort in Corfu after contracting the identical mystery illness that swept the paradise island in late September.
She said: ‘It was awful.
‘I might say there have been at the very least a dozen people falling sick a day while we were there.
‘My partner fell sick on the third day of our stay and I used to be chatting with some couples within the evening as I used to be left by myself.
‘Inside 24 hours, at the very least one member from each of those 4 couples I spoke to had contracted it too.’
She felt she was ‘gaslighted’ by hotel staff and Jet2 representatives who simply told her they will need to have contracted the bug from some other place on the Greek island.
‘The staff were quite rude and in some instances I got the sensation no-one really cared,’ she said.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
If you have got been infected with norovirus, you’ll experience:
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- These last two may even occur at the identical time, which provides norovirus its notoriety as an illness you don’t need to get
You might even have:
Extreme temperature
Headaches
Aching legs and arms
‘It ruined the vacation from that day onwards.
‘My partner didn’t eat properly for days. He spent two entire days locked within the room itself.
‘We didn’t go the pool as we were frightened we’d contract it again.
‘The remainder of the honeymoon was spent riddled with anxiety attempting to keep to ourselves and away from public areas or the hotel.’
She added: ‘We didn’t once see any of them using a bottle of spray between people leaving and latest guests being seated at the identical table.
‘We once sat down, not realising the table wasn’t clean, they usually quickly wiped it with a dry paper napkin.
‘They’ve a buffet too, which was self-serve, so everyone was touching all the pieces.’
Other Valmar guests complained online about contracting the bug.
One wrote on TripAdvisor: ‘Once I had a gathering with the manager he acted prefer it was nothing they usually get this virus every September, I’ve been to Corfu five times and never heard of this rubbish.
‘They need to have stopped sending people for at the very least per week to deep clean the hotel.’
A notice put up by staff seen by Metro read: ‘We would really like to tell you that there have been confirmed reports of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks across the island, presenting with symptoms similiar to norovirus.’
They urged guests to clean their hands thoroughly and notify reception in the event that they experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Harriet, who runs her own catering company from a converted horsebox, said she had been stonewalled by the hotel and Jet2 Holidays since she returned to the UK two weeks ago.
‘They haven’t said what has caused it,’ she said.
‘You’d think they’d just have basic hygiene full stop. The perfect a part of the honeymoon was our final night. We went out to a Greek taverna across the road.’
Kostas Plaskasovitis, quality general manager, responded to guests online, saying: ‘Unfortunately, there was a virus transmitted to the hotel with an outbreak at the tip of September that affected you and other guests.
‘We’re very sad to see a few of our guests affected by this virus however the hotel management took all the protection measures in line with the local authorities instructions and our partner’s dedicated health and safety teams.
‘There are certificates from the above control bodies in line with the law.
‘Possibly Valmar put much more stricter measures in place.’
‘At this point, we’re being accused and somewhat unfairly, because the whole staff tried to assist very hard doing their best for all of our guests, and with any possible mistake or omission as frontline staff working under this pressure [sic].’
Jet2 and Valmar Hotel have been approached for comment.
MORE: My nose swelled a lot I frightened about frightening children
MORE: Doctor explains phenomenon of individuals sensing their death days before it happens
MORE: Doctors ignored me – they only spoke to my husband