By Nam Hyun-woo
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Friday that two Swiss athletes have fallen ill because of the norovirus, but they were not staying in the Athlete’s Village of the PyeongChang Olympics.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said the IOC is aware of two freestyle ski athletes from Switzerland who have fallen ill, but they “were not staying in the Village.”
Earlier Friday, the Swiss team said two skiers were affected by the bug and taken away from the rest of the team after being diagnosed. They became the first athletes hit by the contagious bug.
The two Swiss skiers have been identified in the Swiss media as Fabian Boesch and Elias Ambuehl.
The PyeongChang organizers said the two athletes “have never entered the Athlete’s Village and are staying at Phoenix Park,” where snow events are held.
“They underwent medical protocol and are no longer showing any symptoms of the norovirus,” an official from the organizing committee said.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 232 people have been affected by the highly contagious bug in regions surrounding the PyeongChang Games venues so far, since its first outbreak was reported before the Games’ opening on Feb. 9.
Norovirus is a contagious virus that causes stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. Though it is not fatal, it is highly contagious and there is no antidote for it. It is mostly seen in crowded environments, such as hospitals, schools, or other enclosed places.