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...]
(Not-So) Fun Facts About Norovirus, The Leading Source of Food Poisoning Outbreaks in America
Two outbreaks this week are a good example of why norovirus is the leading cause of food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S. One was at a Ground Round restaurant in Minnesota, the other was at an elementary school in Indiana. Norovirus is highly contagious virus that affects about 20 million Americans each year. The amount of virus that fits on the head of pin, as few as 18 particles, is enough to make 1,000 people sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has compiled a norovirus fact sheet with the following information. Although it is sometimes called "the cruise ship virus," only about 1 percent of norovirus outbreaks take place on cruise ships. Most, about 65 percent, happen at restaurants and originate from an infected food worker. Symptoms … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Elementary School in Indiana
A norovirus outbreak at an elementary school in Indiana has sickened at least 129 students, which is about 25% of the student body. At first officials thought contaminated food was the source of the illness, but Huffington Post reported that 39% of the students who were sickened did not eat or drink anything provided by the school the day before. The incubation period for norovirus is usually 12 to 24 hours, up to 48 hours. Norovirus is a very contagious virus that spreads through food, drink, contaminated objects, and person to person contact. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal and stomach cramps, and headaches. The school was deep cleaned according to instructions from the Indiana Department of Health. Anyone can contract the virus, but most people recover within … [Read more...]
Ground Round Restaurants in MN Closed for Norovirus Outbreak
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 … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Royal Hawaiian Hotel
A norovirus outbreak has occurred at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, according to KITV 4. The outbreak was confirmed by the Hawaii Department. Hawaii state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park, said in an interview that it wasn't necessarily contaminated food that caused the outbreak, but since several employees were also sick, surfaces in the kitchen were most likely contaminated. More than 100 people, including guests and employees, have been ill. The hotel has cleaned and sanitized restrooms, the kitchen, guest rooms, and public areas. There have not been any reports of illness since last Monday. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is spread through contaminated food and drink, contaminated surfaces, and person-to-person contact. It causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak in Hartford County MD
Health officials in Hartford County, MD have determined that a food poisoning outbreak in mid-March was caused by norovirus. The county health department received dozens of reports of illness with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Some of those who became ill after eating at a restaurant submitted stool samples for lab testing. Results from those tests did not reveal a bacterial source for the infection such as Salmonella, E.coli or Campylobacter, a health department spokesman said. Highly contagious norovirus accounts for about half of all food poisoning outbreaks. Often a sick food handler or is involved, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People who have been sick with norovirus can transmit the virus for up to three days after symptoms … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Chuck E. Cheese in Maple Grove, MN
A suspected norovirus out beak at the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Maple Grove, Minnesota is being investigated by the Hennepin County Health Department. The outbreak apparently occurred over the weekend. No one has been hospitalized in this outbreak. although 18 children and adults have reported being ill. Investigators think that someone with the illness ate at the restaurant and spread it to others. The kitchen and food preparation areas are being looked at, and employees are being interviewed to see if they were sick at the time. If you ate at that restaurant in the past week and have been ill, please call the Hennepin County Health Department at 612-543-5230. The symptoms of a norovirus infection include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other symptoms may … [Read more...]
Outbreak at MI Wild Chef Japanese Steakhouse is Norovirus
The outbreak at the Wild Chef Japanese Steakhouse Bar & Grill was caused by norovirus. At least 300 people have been sickened in this outbreak. Public health officials in Michigan are waiting for laboratory results to determine whether the cause was a sick employee, contaminated food, or another cause. A questionnaire was posted online for patrons of the restaurant to fill out. That was helpful to the data collection phase of the investigation. The restaurant has been disinfected, including cleaning of equipment, floors, walls, and ceilings. Management has written new policies and procedures and retrained staff on the proper use of handwashing equipment, reporting illness, and food preparation. Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted through food and drink, and … [Read more...]
