'Mystery virus' at UK business conference sees 20 fall sick including CEO

At least two people were hospitalised overnight after a virus outbreak caused nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea to sweep through people at a conference centre

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Over 20 people were struck down by a 'mystery virus' at an Edinburgh conference centre, with two individuals, including one heavily pregnant woman, hospitalised due to severe symptoms that attendees initially mistook for food poisoning.

The unsettling incident occurred in March 2024 at the Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue on St Mary's Street and only came to light following a recent Freedom of Information request.

The outbreak, which caused attendees to suffer from headaches, stomach pains, fatigue, diarrhoea and vomiting, happened just days after several conferences took place on March 26 and 28.

One delegate was so ill they reported being "unable to drink and eat until Saturday evening" after first falling sick 24 hours earlier. Another described feeling "sick" with a "total lack of energy" and being forced to stay in bed.

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Emails exchanged between the training centre and affected companies, seen by Edinburgh Live, revealed that one delegate was still in hospital on April 4, nearly a week after being admitted on March 29.

A delegate shared:

"I am still waiting for confirmation on one of our colleagues as they are still in hospital. Another member who is heavily pregnant had to attend hospital as they were severely ill but has since been discharged."

An independent investigation by the Edinburgh Council's environmental health team concluded that the illness was "most likely caused by a virus".

Only three out of 22 delegates from one group managed to dodge the illness in the short term, according to email correspondence.

Further emails from another delegation revealed:

"I have spoken to our CEO who was one of the affected delegates and she advised that alongside herself, four other delegates fell ill with sickness/diarrhoea. - norovirus symptoms.

"Unfortunately, they won't be able to pinpoint exactly what they ate, but they all had the soup, as well as a mix of meat/veggie sandwiches."

Initially, food poisoning was suspected as the cause.

Attendees were questioned about their food intake, the onset of their illness, and the symptoms they experienced, although food-borne illness was eventually ruled out by investigators.

Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue, which hosts events, training, conferences, exams, and mediations, along with Edinburgh Council, were approached for comment.