2012 Norovirus at a Restaurant, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
In late May 2012 Minnesota public health officials investigated an outbreak of norovirus at a restaurant located in Mendota Heights (Dakota County), Minnesota. The outbreak was first reported by a chef at the restaurant who said he had received complaints of illness among people who ate at the restaurant following a burial service on May 26. Twenty five gathering attendees were interviewed. Five persons met the case definition. All five cases reported vomiting, four (80%) had diarrhea, two (40%) had cramps and 1 had fever. Attendees of the gathering ate in a separate room from other restaurant patrons and had a buffet catered specifically for them. Consumption of cantaloupe was statistically associated with illness (4 of 4 cases vs. 3 of 12 controls; odds ratio undefined; 95% confidence interval, undefined, p=0.02). Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health staff visited the restaurant on May 29. The restaurant had an employee illness log; no recent gastrointestinal illnesses were records. Handwashing sinks were well stocked, and employees were observed adequately washing their hands. Gloves were being utilized for food preparation, and there was minimal bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Investigators concluded this was an outbreak of norovirus associated with a restaurant in Mendota Heights. Consumption of cantaloupe was statistically associated with illness. The source of contamination was not determined. Possible sources included a patron who was ill prior to the event, or an employee of the restaurant who was asymptomatic or denied illness.
- Outbreak began:
- May 2012
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- Minnesota
- Organism(s):
-
- Norovirus
- Vehicle(s):
- Cantaloupe
- Molecular Results Available:
- No
- Test Results:
- None
- Location(s):
- Restaurant
- Brand Name(s):
- Total ill:
- 5
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Yes
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- 0
- Number Probable Cases:
- 5
- Number Possible Cases:
- 0
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- No
- Number Hospitalized:
- 0
- Any Deaths:
- No
- Number Dead:
- 0
- Any References:
- No
-
- References:
- Minnesota Department of Health Outbreak Summary