Hundreds of people have been taken ill after drinking contaminated water at one of Bermuda's top hotels -- after Government health officers gave the premises the all-clear.

Health officers were called to the Marriott Castle Harbour Hotel on Friday after several people, including guests and staff, were struck down by a mystery illness.

People complained of food-poison like symptoms, including nausea, stomach cramps, fever and diarrhoea.

Last night the Government's Chief Medical Officer backtracked on his earlier diagnosis that the virus was not transmitted through water -- but only after hundreds of people were hit by the bug after attending functions at the hotel over the weekend.

Dr. John Cann said: "I will go back on what I said earlier about it being an airborne virus. It's definitely a problem at the Marriott.

"There's not a great deal I can say at the moment other than our investigations are continuing.

"There seems to be a problem with the water supply and we are quite certain that this outbreak has nothing to do with food preparation.'' The Royal Gazette has since learned that the hotel's water tank was shut off yesterday afternoon, fuelling speculation that water is the culprit for spreading the epidemic.

The decision means that guests will not be able to take baths or showers and coffee and ice machines have also been disconnected. The hotel has also stopped taking any further bookings.

A Government spokesman confirmed that about 30 people had been treated at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for symptoms but estimated that the number of people hit by the bug was more like 130.

"The water supply is something that we're taking a very close look at,'' the spokesman said.

"The symptoms were very confusing at first and it has taken us a while to pin it down.

"There have been two waves of the illness, the first of which was on the weekend of the 7th. The second wave started last Thursday.'' Dozens of the Island's top business leaders are on the hotel's casualty list after attending a charity ball at the hotel on Saturday night.

The event was organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

Coalition chairwoman Sheelagh Cooper last night blasted hotel bosses for allowing the ball to go ahead.

"I was given several assurances on Saturday that there was no problem with the water and everything was fine,'' Mrs. Cooper said.

"I think this is a bit of a boo-boo on the part of the health department. I think the hotel has tried to get to the bottom of it but I can't understand how the health department could say that it was an airborne virus.

"I certainly wouldn't have gone ahead with it on Saturday if I knew there was going to be any risks -- I don't want to endanger people's lives.

"But the hotel assured me that the water and food had been tested and there was no possibility whatsoever of people picking something up.

"I would say a significant number of the 200 guests became ill. The event itself was very successful but people didn't become ill until the next day. I had a lot of calls from people on Sunday saying they were sick.'' One guest house owner, who did not wish to be named, told The Royal Gazette how a number of her guests had eaten at the hotel restaurant at the weekend and became ill. "Two of my guests went there on Friday night and were sick the next day,'' she said.

"Then another four went on Saturday night and now they're all ill. The thing is, if people started getting sick on Friday why didn't they do something about it earlier? They should have closed the restaurants down as soon as people started falling ill.'' The annual Lobster Pot Invitational Golf Tournament was also affected by the mystery bug.

Twelve players staying at the hotel were unable to tee-off on the first day of the tournament yesterday after complaining of feeling below par.

Last night hotel staff were remaining tightlipped about the epidemic.

Resident manager Scott Hedrick refused to answer questions but said: "A number of guests have reported experiencing flu-like symptoms. The Ministry of health is investigating and we are cooperating with them in those investigations. Until we have a clear understanding of the situation we are not really in a position to say anything.'' TOURISM TOU