Billygan’s Roadhouse in Salmon Creek, Washington was closed Friday when at least 22 customers developed gastroenteritis. According to KOIN Local 6, the Clark County Public Health Department closed the Vancouver-area restaurant for at least 48 hours. Last year, a Salmonella Virchow outbreak closed the On the Border Mexican restaurant in Vancouver when at least 113 people were sickened.
County Health Officer Dr. Diana Yu ordered the closure so the restaurant could be cleaned and sanitized. All possibly contaminated food was discarded. Public health officials are making sure that all food safety measures, including hand-washing stations and food handling laws, are being followed. There is no word on if any of the ill individuals required hospitalization.
Gastroenteritis is most commonly caused by norovirus, which is very contagious. Symptoms of a norovirus infection include vomiting, stomach and abdominal pain, and diarrhea. People can contract the virus through contaminated food and drink, by touching contaminated surfaces, and through person-to-person contact.
