Health officials have confirmed norovirus as the cause of illness among dozens of people associated with Faccia Luna, a restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the laboratory-confirmed outbreak on Friday after multiple customers and staff members reported gastrointestinal symptoms.
Approximately 40 people fell ill with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. The restaurant was closed for three days to address the situation and to allow the staff to thoroughly sanitize the premises.
Multiple government agencies, including the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and State College Health Department, have collaboratred to investigate the outbreak and health officials continue to examine the potential transmission source of the virus.
Norovirus, a highly contagious illness typically prevalent during winter months, or anywhere large groups of people gather in enclosed settings, can spread through food, beverages, surfaces, or close contact with infected individuals. Norovirus contamination poses a significant health risk, particularly to individuals with compromised immune systems. What makes norovirus contamination especially concerning is that infected food often appears, smells, and tastes normal, making it difficult to detect without proper testing.
Symptoms of norovirus infection typically include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms can be particularly severe in vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
The outbreak gained public attention through social media, with numerous customers in a local Facebook group reporting similar symptoms after dining at the restaurant.
The restaurant’s owner, Bill McFadden, told local media that he believes the virus was introduced by an infected customer or employee during a busy Penn State football weekend, stressing that the restaurant’s food was not the source of transmission and also noting that a staff member who tested positive for norovirus had been sent to the hospital for confirmation.
McFadden, a local restaurateur with over 50 years of experience, described the situation as unprecedented in his career and said that the restaurant closed to ensure adequate staffing and to complete a comprehensive sanitization process.
Commenting on this article, one national norovirus lawyer said, “This incident is another good example of the potential rapid spread of norovirus in crowded settings. I strongly urge consumers and businesses to follow health experts recommendations of thorough hand hygiene and careful cleaning to prevent transmission of the virus.”
