Syracuse Norovirus Food Poisoning Outbreak Linked to Local Restaurant

Health officials indicate that a food poisoning outbreak in the Syracuse, New York area, which sickened at least 95 people at the end of last month, was tied to a local restaurant that was temporarily shut down this week. 

Onondaga County Health Department officials say that the outbreak started at the Twin Trees Too restaurant in Syracuse, involving norovirus, which is a highly contagious illness that can cause nausea and diarrhea.

On Wednesday, the restaurant shut down for a day for cleaning, but was open for business again later that evening. According to county health officials, the restaurant cooperated fully with the investigation and it is believed that the norovirus outbreak started with sick employees preparing food, which allowed the bug to be spread to customers.

The Syracuse food poisoning outbreak appears to have started in the last weekend of February and was most likely spread through salad or antipasto, health officials said. The norovirus illnesses have most likely run their course.

It is believed to be the largest food illness outbreak so far this year, surpassing a clostridium perfringens outbreak in South Dakota that was tracked back to “walking tacos” sold at a basketball game. That outbreak sickened at least 50 people.

Norovirus is extremely contagious and causes gastroenteritis. Symptoms of gastroenteritis from norovirus in humans can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping and sometimes low-grade fevers, chills, headaches, muscle aches and tiredness. The symptoms hit suddenly, and last for about several days.