A norovirus outbreak has contaminated more than 50 people in Vermont. The restaurant where these people are believed to have contracted it reopened this Sunday. This is in spite of the fact that the health officials are still preparing an official investigation.
An Official Inquiry into the Restaurant
After numerous reports, health officials have started the investigation of the norovirus outbreak. People mentioned that they started feeling sick after they ate at the Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub which is located in South Burlington.
The investigation page for this norovirus outbreak asks all people who ate at this location between 11 March and 23 March to complete a short survey. This way, they can help investigators know more about the outbreak and what caused it. They also mentioned that the responses are anonymous and everybody should complete the survey, even if they are not sick.
The restaurant was closed after the reports, but investigators permitted owners to reopen it after sanitizing and cleaning was made on Friday and Saturday. This virus is very contagious and it can live for very long periods of time. This is why sanitizing the whole restaurant was mandatory.
The owner of the restaurant mentioned that the virus might not have originated at the restaurant. Due to the fact that the norovirus travels very easily, the outbreak could have been caused by a client or a vendor. People who have eaten at the restaurant in that period should be on the lookout for any symptoms and report them.
Symptoms of the Norovirus
Usually, the first symptoms appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. People who have this virus experience stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. Some people might also become too dehydrated that they might need to receive IV fluids. The gastrointestinal symptoms usually last for 2-3 days. There is no vaccine and no course of treatment for the norovirus.