Norovirus confirmed at Raleigh restaurant after 200+ complaints. Here’s the latest

Anna Johnson, Drew Jackson
·3 min read

Three confirmed cases of norovirus have been linked to a Raleigh sushi restaurant.

The Wake County Health Department received 241 complaints from diners who visited Sushi Nine, a restaurant at 3812 Western Blvd. The first person to feel ill after eating at the restaurant was on Dec. 1, the county said.

All the diners who became sick ate at the restaurant from Nov. 28 through Dec. 5. The restaurant voluntarily closed for deep cleaning on Dec. 5 and reopened Dec. 8.

“An environmental health consultant is conducting daily visits to the establishment,” according to a Wake County news release. “No new complaints have been reported since the restaurant reopened on Friday, Dec. 8.”

Wake County has interviewed 170 people who submitted complaints and all were asked to give a stool sample, the only way to test for norovirus. Only three people did provide samples, but all three came back positive for nororivus.

“Unfortunately, norovirus can spread very easily, especially during the winter months when people come together for holiday gatherings and parties which include a lot of meal prep and catering,” said Wake County Public Health Director Rebecca Kaufman in a news release. “We continue to work closely with customers who visited Sushi Nine, restaurant staff and our partners with NCDHHS to determine the source and extent of the outbreak.”

An employee reached by phone at the restaurant said the owner, Lisa Fatfat, is on holiday and unable to comment. The restaurant’s last sanitation score was a 98 on Sept. 5.

What caused the outbreak?

The diners who were sick reported eating a variety of menu items, according to the Wake County Health Department. It’s reportedly common to “not be able to narrow down to a specific source of contamination.”

Wake County is encouraging people who ate at Sushi Nine between Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 to monitor themselves for symptoms and, if they became sick, to contact Wake County Public Health at 919-250-1029.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a contagious virus normally contracted by:

  • Having direct contact with a person who is sick.

  • Consuming contaminated food or water.

  • Touching a contaminated surface, then putting unwashed hands in your mouth.

Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It causes 58% of foodborne illnesses in the United States, and each year the virus causes an average 900 deaths and more than 100,000 hospitalizations.

Sometimes it is referred to as the “stomach flu” or a “stomach bug” but it is not related to the influenza virus.

What are the norovirus symptoms?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list the symptoms of norovirus as:

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting

  • Stomach pain

  • Nausea

  • Headache

  • Fever

  • Body Aches

  • Dehydration

How do you prevent norovirus?

The Wake County Health Department recommends the following to prevent the spread of the virus:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Wash fruits and vegetables, cook oysters and shellfish thoroughly and routinely clean and sanitize kitchen utensils, counters and surfaces.

  • Avoid preparing or handling food when sick.

  • Wash clothes or linens immediately if someone has been sick.