A possible norovirus outbreak has been associated with La Fuente restaurant, located at 14400 South East Petrovitsky Road in Renton, Washington, according to a press release by the King County Public Health Department. Twenty-eight people are sick after eating food and drinking beverages there on January 25, 2019. The 28 people were all from one party.
Previous restaurant inspections showed that the restaurant rated “okay.” The last inspection was conducted on August 1, 2018.
Patrons of the restaurant have been experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Those are the classic symptoms of norovirus, which is a very contagious pathogen.
Environmental Health visited the restaurant on January 29, 2019, and were told that a customer became ill at the restaurant on January 25, 2019. If this customer was the source of the norovirus, they could have contaminated with bathroom area with the pathogen. No employees reported being sick, but investigators observed improper handwashing and inadequate handwashing facilities at the restaurant.
Proper and thorough handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of this illness. The pathogen spreads through vomit and feces. If someone is sick and doesn’t wash their hands thoroughly, they can contaminate other people and even surfaces in a building. It’s also important that anyone who is sick, with vomiting or diarrhea, stays home from work or school.
The restaurant was closed for cleaning and sanitation. All foods that were in the facility before it was c leaned were thrown away. Public health officials told the staff that if they are sick, they are not allowed to return to work until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
Investigators went back to La Fuente on January 30, 2019. They found that the restaurant was appropriately cleaned, and the facility was allowed to open that same day.
