The Hawaii State Department of Health is recalling frozen, raw oysters imported from Korea because they are associated with a norovirus outbreak. The oysters were sold in bulk to distributors and food establishments in the state. Peter Oshiro said in a statement, "the department has already conducted product trace-backs and embargoed all of the suspect product on November 24, 2015 at various local shellfish distributors and restaurants. Although this product is not sold directly to the public, a recall has been issued as an additional safeguard to further notify anyone who may possess the product that it is unsafe and should be destroyed." A product embargo prohibits businesses from using or selling a product suspected of causing illness. At least 11 people have been sickened with … [Read more...]
Seattle Chipotle Closed for Food Safety Violations
The Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant at 212 Westlake Avenue North in Seattle, Washington was closed on Thursday, December 10, 2015 for repeated food safety violations, according to a report on Seattle & King County Public Health. The restaurant had three red violations in three consecutive inspections, which prompted the closure. Red violations are those that are serious enough they can cause foodborne illness. In December 2014, an inspection found that food was being held at less than 130°F (food must be held at 140°F or higher to prevent bacterial growth). In October 2015, violations including improper cooking times and temperatures of food, and improper use of non-continuous cooking. The inspection in November 2015 also found improper hot holding temperatures of less than … [Read more...]
Boston College Norovirus Associated with Chipotle Hits 120
The Massachusetts Department of Health has released a statement about the food poisoning outbreak at Boston College, believed to be associated with the Chipotle restaurant at Cleveland Circle. "Initial testing conducted by the State Public Health has shown the presence of norovirus," the statement reads. Now at least 120 students are sick in that outbreak, which was not an E. coli outbreak, as was originally feared. Boston College released another statement to its community, confirming that the outbreak was norovirus and offering information to the students and staff. At least 80 of the sickened students confirmed that they did eat at the Chipotle restaurant at Cleveland Circle. The Chipotle restaurant in question was closed after the reports of illness started to come in. A City of … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Bali Hai in San Diego
A norovirus outbreak has been confirmed at the Bali Hai restaurant in San Diego at a Shelter Island journalism banquet on July 29, 2015. The awards ceremony was for the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists. At least 61 people were sickened, but officials haven't identified the source of the virus. Officials don't know yet if contaminated food was the cause, or if the virus was spread person-to-person. Someone who prepared the food may have been ill and spread the virus. The symptoms of a norovirus outbreak include vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. Three samples have come back from patients that were positive for "Genotype 1" strain of norovirus. This is a less common strain than Type 2, which causes most of these illnesses. The restaurant was inspected last week and about 65 … [Read more...]
Breakers Hotel, CA Restaurant Shut Down for Norovirus
The Sky Room at the Long Beach Breakers Hotel closed down for four days in May after a norovirus outbreak, according to the LA Times. The restaurant closed on May 22 through the 25th for cleaning. About 21 people were sickened in an outbreak that occurred between May 1 and May 9, 2015. Symptoms included nausea, watery diarrhea, headache, weakness, chills, abdominal pain, and a low fever. Three of the patients had lab-confirmed norovirus illnesses. The rest are considered "probable" cases. The restaurant followed CDC guidelines to clean, including steam cleaning furniture, the elevator, fabrics, and equipment. The sanitation process was repeated several times. No illnesses have been reported since May 9. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is spread through person to person … [Read more...]
Norovirus at Chuck E Cheese in Woodbury
A norovirus outbreak has sickened at least 30 people who visited a Chuck E. Cheese in Woodbury, MN last week. The restaurant closed for a cleaning in Tuesday evening and reopened Wednesday afternoon. Symptoms of a norovirus infection are vomiting and diarrhea. No hospitalizations have been reported. It is not clear how many of those sickened were children. Highly contagious, norovirus, the leading cause of food posioning outbreaks in the U.S., sickens about 20 million Americans each year. Most, about 65 percent, happen at restaurants and originate from an infected food worker. People with norovirus shed billions of viral particles in their stool and vomit. The virus is transmitted when a food handler who has been sick has microscopic amounts of vomit or stool on his or her hands and … [Read more...]
Norovirus Hitting Hard in Minnesota
Norovirus is hitting the state of Minnesota especially hard, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. This illness, often mistaken for the "24 hour flu" includes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body aches, a mild fever, and a general run-down feeling. About 40 outbreaks of this illness have been reported to MDH since the beginning of November. Schools, restaurants, nursing homes, and private gatherings have all reported outbreaks. Norovirus is the most common cause of food-related illness in Minnesota. Cases peak in the winter months when more people are together inside. People usually become sick 24 to 48 hours after exposure. Symptoms usually last 1-3 days, and most people recover on their own, although some people can become so ill they are … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Hampstead, NH Schools
A norovirus outbreak has been reported at the Hampstead Central and Middle Schools in Hampstead, New Hampshire. The school is posting a daily tally on the number of students sick with a "stomach bug". Norovirus is also called viral gastroenteritis. The school calls the outbreak "significant numbers of students and absences." Staff members are enacting precautions in classrooms, and the custodians are increasing cleaning procedures. At least 60 students were sick last week. New cases were reported yesterday. Norovirus is a very contagious virus. Cases increase during the cold winter months because more people are together inside. The symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Fever is usually mild or absent. Most people recover within 1-2 days, but … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Subway in Buena Vista, Colorado
According to the Mountain Mail, a norovirus outbreak at a Subway sandwich shop in Buena Vista, Colorado has sickened at least 20 people. The illnesses occurred in mid-November 2014. Chaffee County Public Health was contacted by five people claiming illness after eating at the restaurant. Samples from five patients tested positive for norovirus. Most of the patients were students at Buena Vista High School. One employee from the restaurant reported being ill. That employee most likely caused the contamination, according to Victor Crocco, Chaffee County Environmental Health Manager. No more cases have been reported since November 20, 2014. The restaurant was not closed after the outbreak, but was cited for three "noncritical" violations. Workers at the restaurant cleaned all surfaces … [Read more...]
Washington Shellfish Recalled After Norovirus Outbreak
According to the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC), Washington state has issued a recall of shellfish after a norovirus-like outbreak occurred after an event. At least six people were sickened in this Oregon outbreak; two cases have been confirmed as Norovirus. The event had 100 attendees; about half ate oysters harvested from Hook Canal 5 and Hammersley Inlet in Mason County. Oysters are not definitively linked to the outbreak, since only 10% of the attendees of the event were interviewed, hand-washing facilities were not adequate so an ill employee could have contaminated foods, and the event was crowded so person-to-person transmission could have occurred. But, the Washington State Department of Health then received two additional cases in other areas; those … [Read more...]
