WILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: HOLIDAYMAKERS at Center Parcs are 'dropping like flies' as a mystery virus sweeps through the resort.

The illness causing sickness, diarrhoea and vomiting has already been confirmed in 86 guests and staff at the holiday park in Longleat Forest, Warminster.

A further 28 possible infections are being treated and all holidaymakers complaining of the symptoms have been confined to their beds.

The virus first took grip on Friday and cleaning teams have been working round-the-clock to disinfect all public areas to eradicate the bug.

Health experts have yet to identify the cause of the outbreak but believe the virus has all the clinical features of viral gastro-enteritis. It is not considered life-threatening.

Any members of staff showing symptoms are immediately sent home but despite extensive cleaning and isolation, six new cases were diagnosed on Wednesday.

One part-time member of staff said: "Holidaymakers were dropping like flies when I was there at the weekend and managers are panicking that they will be shut down. There were kids vomiting all over the place, but the guests weren't being given the full picture."

All new holidaymakers are only informed of the outbreak on arrival but advice and medical help is available for guests staying at the resort.

A 30-year-old mother-of-two from Berkshire said: "So far this virus hasn't affected me or my children but we are still extremely worried." Anti-viral experts are now working with specialists from West Wiltshire District Council's environmental health department to identify and contain the virus, which is believed to spread rapidly by touch and in the air.

Mark Evans, consultant in communicable disease control for Wiltshire, said: "Initial tests reveal it has the clinical features of

viral gastro-enteritis but there is no confirmation of what the virus is yet.

"There have been 68 confirmed cases of the virus in guests and 18 in staff but there are possibly a further 28 cases.

"This is a virus common on cruise ships or in hotels and has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps.

"It can be caused by poor hygiene and strains of the virus have been found in faeces and vomit, which means it is transferred in the air and by touch.

"The virus is something that comes and goes and is not life-threatening. But elderly people and babies are particularly at risk because of the need to keep taking liquids and not dehydrate."

Bosses at Center Parcs have said they have no intention of closing the resort and are cleaning the park 24 hours a day.

One member of staff said: "Everything guests come into contact with has to be disinfected as much as possible.

"The ball pool for kids was closed for a while because of possible risks. Guests were already unhappy because of the amount of building work which is going on."

Guests struck down by the virus will be offered compensation.

A spokesman for Center Parcs said: "Every guest who arrived on Monday was told of the situation and anybody who shows symptoms is told to stay in their villa.

"A team is working 24 hours each day, stringently cleaning every villa, all the touch points and public areas, to eradicate the virus.

"We are very happy with hygiene at the park."