DAMN VIRUSES!

 I have spent years investigating complaints about viral gastroenteritis and/or legionella (many false) in hotels, mostly on our islands, fortunate or not.

The majority of these complaints come, of course, from British citizens. Can't they get enough! Historically, they have always had it in for us, from the looting of galleons (16th-17th centuries) to the modern version (false claims of imaginary diseases), they haven't stopped poking us in the eye. And we'll see what happens after Brexit...

Well, to the point. Despite the above, it is a fact that on one of our small islands there is a recurring phenomenon that facilitates the airborne spread of the gastroenteritis virus.

After conducting several thorough field investigations to determine that hotel facilities have had nothing to do with real outbreaks or spikes of viral gastroenteritis in these coastal/vacation areas, I will tell you what we have detected that happens, and that is endemic in the central-south of this island.

• Although historically it is in the summer when there is a higher wind speed, due to the strengthening of the trade winds and the invasion of Saharan air, it is a fact that due to climate change we are experiencing globally, the trade wind season on this island is becoming more frequent.
• It is worth noting that the Saharan wind current carries sand particles, and it is common for it to carry colonies of insects (e.g. African locust), microorganisms, viruses, etc.
• Due to climate change, periods of dust storms are becoming more frequent (every other month). It is observed that during these periods the incidence of viral gastroenteritis in the population is higher.
• After strong winds that carry abundant particles (dust in suspension, sand, insects, etc.) from the West African coast, a period of high heat (dust storm) follows, a breeding ground for the gastrointestinal virus.
• According to health centers in the south of the island, it is common throughout the year for residents to visit these centers with this type of gastroenteritis.
• It is important to know that the gastroenteritis virus also spreads through the air, propagating in this way, and entering through the respiratory tract.

Conclusion

• There is an endemic geographic area on one of our islands where the viral gastroenteritis virus is usually spread through the air, which cannot be attributed, in any way, to hotel establishments in terms of food handling, lack of hygiene, non-compliance with internal protocols, etc.
• We must continue traveling, although it is always advisable to carry an antiviral mask in our hand luggage as a basic preventive measure to avoid this type of contagion, as most Asians do, which is always part of their usual hand luggage. And even more so now with the Chinese coronavirus looming. If you're curious, ask your pharmacy if they have any masks left, because mine doesn't.

            Alberto Garom