The investigation continues into the norovirus outbreak in Indiana that sickened 107 people who at at Cebolla’s Mexican Grill in Fort Wayne. John Silcox, Director of Communications at the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin that seven food handlers reported working while ill during the outbreak time frame.
Norovirus is extremely contagious. It’s spread through direct contact, contaminated food and water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes gastroenteritis, which inflames your stomach or intestines or both.
Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, or food poisoning, in the United States, causing about 21 million illnesses every year. A person is most contagious when they are ill and during the first three days after recovery.
That is why experts tell food handlers to not prepare or handle food for others while they are sick and for at least three days after they feel better. In fact, many state and local health departments require that food handlers and preparers who are sick with norovirus avoid handling food until three days after complete recovery.
The final report on the outbreak should be available in the next 30 to 45 days. That report should include information on onset dates, the epidemiological curve, gender and ages of the victims, and any hospitalizations.
