A Ground Round restaurant in Winona County, Minnesota has closed after a “community norovirus outbreak” has sickened at least 30 people. The Minnesota Health Department said that they learned of the outbreak on September 30, 2014, but the illnesses may have started before that date.
The outbreak was apparently confined to those people who ate at the Ground Round restaurant in Winona. But the outbreak is not officially linked to a single source, location, or event and will likely increase. The restaurant voluntarily closed so they could deep clean.
There is no word on whether any employees were ill or if others in the community are sick. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily during the cold months, as more people spend time together indoors.
Norovirus symptoms include stomach and abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, along with less common symptoms of low grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. It is often mistakenly called the “24 hour flu.” Most people recover on their own, but some people must be hospitalized for dehydration.
To prevent the spread of this virus, wash your hands frequently, especially after going to the bathroom and preparing food or eating. Do not go to work, prepare food for others, or serve food while you are sick. Wait 24 hours after a full recovery to return to work or school.
