State closes Bellevue restaurant after 50 patrons get norovirus-type illness
Published 3:02 pm Tuesday, January 26, 2016
<![CDATA[
Update: The Bellevue location of Maggiano’s Little Italy has reopened. The investigation into a possible foodborne illness is ongoing.
King County Public Health is investigating the outbreak of a Norovirus-like illness at Bellevue restaurant Maggiano’s Little Italy.
The department admits the investigation is in early stages and information could change, but more than 50 customers who attended a private event at the restaurant on Jan. 18 came down with an illness similar to norovirus.
Several of the restaurant’s workers are believed to have been ill with symptoms consistent with norovirus dating back to Jan. 9 and over the next two weeks leading up to the event, according to Public Health.
“We are in the process of collecting information, we haven’t heard anything yet about any other ill people outside of that one event, but we’re just at the beginning of our investigation,” Hilary Karasz with King County Public Health told the Reporter.
The initial summary can be read here.
A Maggiano’s Little Italy spokesperson said the restaurant became aware of customers getting sick two days after the event, on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
“We immediately reported this potential issue to the King County Health Department, and have been working closely with them to thoroughly investigate,” the spokesperson said. “To date, we have no confirmed diagnosis of a food-borne illness, and no other reports of any guest outside of this single party becoming ill.”
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is commonly associated with food. The illness often has a sudden onset of nausea and vomiting and/or watery diarrhea with cramps. Dehydration is the most common of the disease’s rare complications.
Public health said it is possible some of those sick people being investigated were ill at the time of the event. Health officials learned of the outbreak last Thursday, Jan. 21. The department has temporarily suspended Maggiano’s food business permit so it will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
“We are taking this isolated incident very seriously and have thoroughly disinfected the restaurant,” said the Maggiano’s spokesperson. “We maintain strict standards of quality, safety and cleanliness in our restaurants and train every teammate in proper food safety and handling.”
The department has not confirmed it is indeed norovirus, but said many times an outbreak of norovirus is not tested in the laboratory.
Maggiano’s is located in Bellevue’s Lincoln Square at 10455 NE Eighth St. Customers wanting more information may contact the restaurant at 1-844-201-1041 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
]]>
