A recent norovirus outbreak associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits in Sammamish, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, has been successfully contained, according to local public health officials. The outbreak, which began in early July 2024, affected multiple patrons and staff members.
Note: Another recent Norovirus outbreak in Seattle was just announced on September 13, 2024.
Norovirus poses a significant health risk, particularly to individuals with compromised immune systems. What makes the virus 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 especially severe in vulnerable populations.
King County Public Health investigators identified five individuals who reported falling ill after consuming food and drinks at the establishment on July 2nd and 3rd, 2024. An additional case was reported in a household member of one of the affected patrons, likely due to person-to-person transmission. Symptoms among those affected included vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chills, all consistent with norovirus infection.
Further investigation revealed that several restaurant staff members had experienced similar symptoms dating back to July 4th, 2024. In response to these findings, health officials closed the restaurant on July 12th for cleaning and disinfection.
Environmental Health investigators conducted a follow-up visit on July 15th to assess the cleaning procedures and review staff health histories. They found that while multiple staff members had reported symptoms between July 4th and 12th, none had worked while ill. The restaurant management was instructed on proper protocols to prevent norovirus spread, including stringent handwashing practices and avoiding bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
After confirming that the restaurant had completed a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection process, health officials allowed it to reopen on July 15th. A follow-up inspection is scheduled within two weeks to ensure ongoing compliance with food handling practices and proper sanitation measures.
Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of norovirus in two of the three individuals who underwent testing.
In May, Food Poisoning News reported on a similar incident that occurred in nearby Issaquah, Washington at Coho Cafe, another popular local restaurant. Norovirus was also identified as the source of a foodborne illness outbreak that sickened six customers.
Commenting on this story, one national noroivirus lawyer said, “This is a good example of how public health measures work in identifying, containing, and resolving foodborne illness outbreaks to protect community health.”
