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...]
Thirty People Ill After Eating at Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ
The Princeton Health Department is reporting that 30 people said they were sick with a gastrointestinal illness after eating at the Nassau Inn on Thanksgiving or the day after, according to Planet Princeton. Norovirus is suspected. The Inn was inspected on Monday, December 1, 2014. The illnesses have not yet been confirmed with laboratory testing. The time frame for illness onset, the symptoms, and recovery time all point to norovirus, which is the most common cause of GI illnesses during the winter. The inspection found only minor issues that most likely did not cause the illnesses. The symptoms of norovirus include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and low grade fever. It's often called the "24 hour flu", but there is no such illness. The common cold is the only … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak on Crown Princess
Norovirus outbreaks are all too common on cruises. The latest is the Crown Princess of Princess Cruise Lines. The ship was on a month-long cruise on the Pacific. According to the CDCs Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), Of the 3,009 people on board, 158 have been experiencing gastrointestinal problems. Fourteen of the 1,160 crew members are also sick. Most of those sickened were ill in the last 15 days of the voyage. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting and diarrhea. The virus is very contagious and spreads rapidly among people lived in a closed environment. In response, Princess Cruise and the crew are sanitizing the ship. They are increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures, making announcements to notify passengers of the outbreak, encouraging case reporting, and … [Read more...]
Norovirus Sickens Dozens at Condon Elementary School in Boston
About 140 students and 10 staff members at Condon Elementary School in Boston have been sickened with suspected norovirus this week, according to CBS Boston. The principal of that school sent a message to parents Tuesday, telling them about the outbreak. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Outbreaks typically increase in the colder months, when more people spend more time indoors. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach and abdominal pain. The illness usually lasts for a few days. Teams were cleaning the school to try to stop the spread of the illness. Officials are asking parents to keep their children home from school if they are ill, and to keep them home until they have been completely symptom-free for 24 hours. To prevent the spread of norovirus, always wash your … [Read more...]
