Six Flags Class Action Lawsuit Certified Over Norovirus Outbreak

A class action lawsuit has been certified over a norovirus outbreak that may have impacted several hundred people who visited Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, in Queensbury, New York during March 2008.

The Six Flags class action lawsuit was filed in the New York State Supreme Court for Warren County, alleging that the amusement park failed ensure sanitary conditions, failed to properly train their workers and failed to shut down or warn guests after infections were first reported.

About 600 people reportedly fell ill due to norovirus after visiting Six Flags Great Escape in March 2008, suffering gastrointestinal illnesses, according to state health officials.

The class action has been certified to include anyone who visited Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark in March 2008, and became ill while there or within 72 hours of leaving. To be included in the suit, the individual must have reported the illness to the health department or responded to inquiries from officials.

According to the complaint, the facility failed to warn attendees about the outbreak even after they became aware of the problem, continuing to take guests and charge admission even as hundreds of guests were ill in their hotel rooms. The lawsuit also claims that Six Flags officials allowed employees they knew were sick to continue serving customers.

The source of the norovirus outbreak was never identified. However, it is known that norovirus can spread through recreational water that has not been properly maintained and chlorinated.

The New York State Department of Health determined that there were no violations of state sanitary codes for water parks or swimming pools after an investigation.

Norovirus is extremely contagious and causes gastroenteritis. Symptoms of gastroenteritis from norovirus in humans can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping and sometimes low-grade fevers, chills, headaches, muscle aches and tiredness. The symptoms hit suddenly, and last for about several days.