Aussie athletes ok after virus at Games

Australian athletes have been given a clean bill of health at the Winter Olympics, where a norovirus has struck down 32 South Korean Games workers.

Australian athletes have so far been given a clean bill of health in PyeongChang after a norovirus caused major problems for Korean workers at the Winter Olympics.

Thirty-two staff at the Games have been isolated because of the outbreak, which causes headaches, stomach pains and diarrhoea.

About 1,200 people working security were being kept in their rooms while being tested for norovirus.

South Korean authorities didn't hold back in covering the staff losses - which included 21 people from the civil security unit - deploying around 900 military personnel to the Games.

But Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said the team had been unaffected by the outbreak at this point with no athletes displaying any signs of illness.

He said Australian team doctor Peter Braun described the response by the South Koreans as "phenomenal".

"Norovirus is not new to anybody," he said of the virus which is common in cloistered environments such as cruise ships.

"There are plans in place to deal with it. The organising committee's response has been absolutely first class in this situation.

"We know that the Olympic village - the area that we most want to protect - has a very good plan around disease control and we also know over and above that the Australian team has its own high-level plan to ensure that our athletes remain safe and happy in order to compete."

Chesterman said the Australian team was on "high alert" and emphasised thorough hygiene habits to help ensure the disease did not enter into the village.

"(But) everyone is fit and healthy which I am really pleased about," he said.

The Winter Olympics start on Friday.


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Source: AAP


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