A suspected norovirus outbreak has closed the Applebee's restaurant in East Sunset Drive in Bellingham, Washington over the weekend, according to the Bellingham Herald. The restaurant reopened on Sunday afternoon, but closed again today. The restaurant was closed "out of an abundance of caution." Ten to fifteen employees were sent home Friday morning after they called in sick or said they felt sick. Two more food workers reported being ill on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 so the place closed again. Management decided to close the restaurant since they did not know the cause of the illnesses or if any customers could be exposed to a problem. The restaurant was extensively cleaned over the weekend. The total number of people sickened is not known at this time. Symptoms included nausea, … [Read more...]

An apparent norovirus outbreak at Edinburgh USA Golf Course in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota has occurred, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). At least 75 people have been sickened after attending a banquet for Totino Grace football players on Sunday, December 8, 2013. The food service for the event was Lancer Hospitality. More than 270 people attended the banquet at the clubhouse restaurant. The private Catholic school rented the space for the event. At least 41 adults and 34 students have been sickened in this outbreak. People began experiencing vomiting and diarrhea over a period of two days after the event. State health officials think norovirus is the culprit. The illness usually lasts a few days and most people recover without medical intervention. No … [Read more...]

The Southern Nevada Health District has confirmed that the outbreak at the Rio Hotel that sickened about 100 people was norovirus. Most people sickened were part of the National Youth Football Championship. Norovirus is very common, especially among groups in close contact with each other, such as people on cruise ships and in hotels, day care centers, and schools. The virus is very contagious. Symptoms of a norovirus infection include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Symptoms usually appear one to two days after exposure. People are infectious when symptoms begin, until about three days after symptoms abate. Some people can be contagious two weeks after they get better. Public health officials are still getting calls from ill … [Read more...]

According to the Stanford Daily, at least fifty-two students have been sickened in an illness outbreak at Stanford University. The outbreak occurred among those who ate at the dining hall in Florence Moore Hall. Four students have been treated for dehydration. Early reports are that the illness is caused by norovirus, a common cause of gastrointestinal infections. Norovirus is commonly spread through unwashed hands, or food or drink contaminated by a person with the virus. It is more common in the cold weather months, when more people stay indoors. The virus is very contagious. It sickens about 20,000,000 people every year in the United States. The illnesses began on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, with students suffering from vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The dining hall was closed to … [Read more...]

The outbreak at Sawmill Creek Convention Center in Huron Ohio was caused by tainted food, according to the Sandusky Register. Fecal bacteria was found on the ham and turkey lunch meat served to attendees. Almost eighty people were sickened with vomiting, nausea, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Officials suspect norovirus caused the outbreak, but they can't pinpoint the absolute cause. The illnesses began during and after the convention, which was held September 10 - 13, 2013. Test results showed "significant amounts" of fecal bacteria contamination. Almost all of those sickened ate the salad. The food can't be tested for norovirus, but fecal bacteria shows that conditions are ripe for contamination. Norovirus is spread when anyone who is sick doesn't wash their hands well after using … [Read more...]

Last week the Blazing Onion, a restaurant in Gig Harbor, Washington, voluntarily closed for a short period after the Tacoma Pierce County Department of Health alerted the restaurant to cases of norovirus in people who had eaten at the restaurant, a source at the health department told us. At least eighteen people were sickened in this outbreak, some of whom did not eat at the restaurant. At least one person was hospitalized as the result of this illness. The restaurant was closed for one day while it was cleaned and sanitized. Norovirus is extremely contagious and causes vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain. In addition, the infectious dose of the virus is very low. People with norovirus are usually hospitalized because of dehydration or other complications. … [Read more...]

According to the Sacramento Bee, county officials at the Sacramento Department of Health and Human Services are investigating a possible norovirus outbreak at Mulvaney's B&L restaurant. The possible restaurant food poisoning outbreak occurred after people at at the restaurant on February 23, February 25, and February 26, 2013. Twenty people reported being ill at that time. Two people connected to the restaurant have tested positive for norovirus. No further incidents were reported in connection with the restaurant, and it was disinfected after customers reported becoming ill. If the outbreak is confirmed, the restaurant may have to undergo reviews of its food safety and sanitation practices. Norovirus sickens at least 21 million Americans every year. It is extremely contagious … [Read more...]

The Wyoming Department of Health has issued its final report on the norovirus outbreak in Casper and Natrona counties in December 2012. Several hundred people were sickened in the outbreak that is being called a "restaurant-associated event." The illness was spread through 31 ill food workers at the Golden Corral restaurant in Casper who kept working even though they were sick. The report states, "over 95 percent of cases report patronizing the restaurant on or after December 7, 2012, which indicates some event occurred that allowed a large number of people to be exposed over that weekend. Further, attack rates among parties of multiple Golden Corral patrons are high (61-73 percent), which is not commonly seen in community-wide outbreaks and is more common during restaurant-associated … [Read more...]