November norovirus outbreak in Tazewell County linked to sick food handler
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared a report this week on a norovirus outbreak in Tazewell County that sickened over 300 people last November.
According to the article, 317 people who ate at "restaurant A" from Nov. 19, 2022, to Nov. 26, 2022, reported falling ill with norovirus symptoms.
Vomiting and nausea were listed at the most common symptoms, followed by diarrhea. Other symptoms of norovirus include muscle aches and pain, abdominal cramping, chills and fever.
The outbreak affected Tazewell County residents, as well as people from 10 other counties and 12 states outside of Illinois. Three of the cases were confirmed through stool samples. There were no hospitalizations or deaths reported, but the CDC article said, "seven persons were evaluated in an emergency department, and five visited an outpatient health care provider."
Given that the outbreak took place around the Thanksgiving holiday, the article stated, "the number of cases is likely underreported."
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The Tazewell County Health Department worked with the Illinois Department of Public Health to investigate the outbreak.
The report said many of those who fell ill — 227 of the 268 who responded to secondary interviews — had the restaurant's salad. Fifteen of the 40 people who reported not becoming sick also had the salad.
"Preparation with ungloved hands by a food handler who had vomiting on November 22, and worked during November 21–23, likely served as a main contributor to the outbreak," the article said.
The restaurant closed voluntarily on Nov. 26 before reopening on Nov. 29. During this time, the restaurant disinfected the space. The Tazewell County Health Department also "provided education to food handlers on hand hygiene, staying home from work when ill with diarrhea or vomiting, and cleaning procedures."
In Washington, Monical’s Pizza at the Cherry Tree Shopping Center voluntarily closed on Nov. 26, 2022, after reports of illness among guests.
"The safety of our guests and employees continue to be our main priority,” the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post at the time. Monical's reopened on Nov. 29, 2022, and on Dec. 1, the health department sent out a press release confirming three norovirus cases had been identified in the outbreak.
Kim Litwiller, communications manager for the Tazewell County Health Department, declined to name the restaurant involved in the CDC report. She said the purpose of the article is to “share public health best practices with public health colleagues across the nation in regard to foodborne illness.”
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The report said noroviruses are listed as "the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States" in the FDA 2022 Food Code.
Litwiller said the county has not seen a similar outbreak since November. She said it is important for all restaurants and food establishments to ensure employees stay home when sick and are trained in proper handwashing and cleaning techniques. The CDC article noted staff members should stay home "for at least 48 hours" after symptoms clear.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Tazewell County norovirus outbreak linked to sick employee, CDC says
