The Peoria City/County Health Department is investigating a norovirus outbreak at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, the Peoria Journal Star reports. Thirty-nine of eighty people who attended a banquet for a high school soccer team were sickened. The dinner was held on November 4, 2012.
According to the health department, the restaurant has been “very cooperative” in the investigation. Public health officials took samples from the restaurant for testing. The results should be available sometime next week.
Norovirus outbreaks are quite common, and usually increase in the fall and winter months, since more people spend more time indoors. The virus is very contagious and easily contaminates food and water. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Food handlers and preparers who are sick with norovirus shed billions of the virus and can spread it to others.
Anyone who handles food should not work while they are sick and during the first three days after recovery. These outbreaks most commonly occur in nursing homes, restaurants, cruise ships, hospitals, schools, and banquet halls. About 50% of all foodborne illness outbreaks are caused by norovirus.
