Guests at Moreton Island resort hit with gastro bugs after E. coli found in water supply

More than 50 people have been struck down with gastroenteritis at the Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island after E. coli bacteria was found in the drinking water.

Managers at the popular south east Queensland destination became aware of the issue last week when guests and staff began experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.

An investigation into the outbreak that has seen management working closely with Brisbane City Council and Queensland Health to find out how the contamination occurred suggests that an underground aquifer on the island was contaminated.

Dr Kari Jarvinen from the Metro South Public Health Unit told media “it is a private water supply that is maintained and looked after by the facility managers.

“Bacteria must have entered into the water supply, whether through the storage tanks or a breakage.”

Guests at the resort are being provided with free bottled water while more tests are being conducted on the supply, with Resort Director David James telling ABC radio “we’re just testing to see where the source of it is, how did it get into the water supply because it’s never happened before and that’s what’s got us a little bit stumped here.

“All we can wait for is the test results to come through and hopefully today or tomorrow we get some better news and it’s cleared up.”

Dr Jarvinen advised anyone who has recently visited the resort to seek medical advice if they display symptoms of gastroenteritis.

A spokeswoman for Tangalooma Island Resort said management had begun implementing its protocols to keep guests and staff safe, including a chlorination treatment on the water supply and sanitisation regimes in public areas and across guest facilities.

The Resort has also contacted 3000 guests who stayed there in recent weeks prior to the outbreak.

Image: Tangalooma Island Resort.