The possible explanation into the outbreak of a mystery epidemic at a top Bermuda hotel has been described as " a whitewash'' by victims of the disease.

Yesterday health chiefs suggested that an overseas visitor to the Marriott Castle Harbour hotel may have been the original carrier of a Norwalk virus, a highly contagious bug that can be passed on through poor personal hygiene and sneezing.

The alarm was raised at the weekend when more than 100 visitors to the hotel were struck down with food poisoning-like symptoms.

Yesterday Chief Health Officer Dr. John Mann warned that the disease could spread across the Island before the virus finally dies out.

And he said that those struck down by the disease should stay off work in case they passed the bug on.

Dr. Cann also suggested that the hotel was not responsible for the disease and, although traces of contamination had been found in the hotel's water, this was "not enough to have caused this sort of problem''.

Dr. Cann said: "We obviously want to try and contain this outbreak here.

However, we cannot treat a viral infection but we can take steps to prevent further spread. Here's the hard part: it can be spread by sneezing, lack of hygiene, unwashed hands.'' But last night The Royal Gazette received numerous calls from furious victims who claimed Dr. Cann was talking "total rubbish''.

And one caller suggested that the explanation was given to protect the reputation of the hotel.

Chartered accountant Tony Nagel, 35, who attended a charity ball at the hotel on Saturday night, said: "I just cannot believe what they are saying.

"It's just incredulous. Do they expect us to believe that, in the space of a few hours more than one hundred people were struck down by some contagious virus? "I'm not a doctor but it has all the signs of food poisoning. Both my wife and I were very ill on Sunday after eating and drinking there on Saturday night. Yet we have two young children and they're both fine. I've since been to work and haven't passed it on to anyone.

"I know two people who were at the hotel who weren't affected and the only reason we can think why is because they didn't drink any water.'' Claims of a `cover up' throw their weight around or what but it was definitely a problem at the hotel.'' Another victim, a 33-year-old businessman who does not wish to be named, said: "I went to the hotel gym on Saturday and Sunday and became sick on Sunday evening for about 12 hours.

"After my workout I took a shower at the gym and swallowed some water -- that's why I became ill -- it couldn't be anything else. And nobody I've come into contact since has been ill.

"I think this is a complete whitewash. Somebody somewhere is pulling strings to cover the whole thing up -- it's rubbish.'' Last night hotel manager Scott Hedrick confirmed that the hotels water supply was shut off on Monday morning and reconnected to a fresh Government supply later in the day.

Coincidentally health chiefs confirmed that, despite their claim that the virus is highly contagious, no new outbreaks had been reported since Monday.

Dr. Cann did not say why the disease had not mushroomed in the three days following Saturday's initial outbreak.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette last night Dr. Cann confirmed that, as far as he knew, every casualty of the illness had either visited the Marriott Hotel or consumed products supplied by the hotel.

And he admitted that he did not think further outbreaks were likely.

"I am having difficulty understanding some of these questions,'' he said.

"I am not saying that I am one hundred percent right and a further period of time may prove that I am not right.'' TOURISM TOU