A blocked sewage pipe has been identified as the culprit which contaminated water at the Marriott Castle Harbour Hotel, poisoning hundreds of guests three weeks ago.

Yesterday Acting Health Minister Quinton Edness confirmed that latest tests showed the epidemic was caused by a viral agent which had been spread by water and/or contaminated food.

"The reason for the sickness was due to a blockage at a distal point and that contaminated the water supply,'' Mr. Edness told the House of Assembly.

The result contradicts earlier theories by health chiefs who suspected an airborne virus.

When public health inspectors were called to the hotel on February 13 after a handful of people became sick, they gave the hotel's water supply a clean bill of health. Within 48 hours more than 200 guests were on the sick list.

And four days later Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann said that the virus had probably been brought in by an overseas visitor and passed from person to person through poor personal hygiene. At the time he was aware that the hotel had had problems with leaking sewer pipes and that the epidemic had not spread once the water supply had been disconnected.

"We are not suggesting that the water supply is contaminated,'' he had said.

"The hotel is not to blame here. It is as much a victim as anyone else.

"The tests of the water from the main tank showed some minor contamination but not enough to have caused this sort of problem.'' Yesterday, however, Dr. Cann was praised by both Mr. Edness and Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb.

Referring to the fact that some victims had suggested a possible whitewash over the incident Ms Webb argued she did not believe civil servants would attempt a cover-up.

"I believe Dr. Cann and his staff are doing the best they can,'' she said.

An American lawyer is now taking legal action against the hotel, claiming it acted negligently and deceitfully.

Last night hotel management could not be contacted to discuss the legal action.

And they have steadfastly refused to comment on whether they in turn will take action against the health department for failing to detect that the water was contaminated.

HEALTH HTH