2013 Norovirus Associated with a Wedding Reception, Duluth, Minnesota

Attendees of a wedding reception held on October 26 at a resort located in Duluth, Minnesota became ill with norovirus in October 2013. Seventeen reception attendees met the case definition. Three stool samples were positive for Norovirus GII. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory sequenced all three samples. Results were identical. One person was hospitalized. No one died. The meal was served buffet style. A limited menu resulted in cases and controls eating almost all of the available food items. Thus, no food item was statistically associated with illness. The resort restaurant was inspected by an MDH sanitarian on October 30. Three of six restaurant employees were interviewed. None reported recent gastrointestinal illness. Food handling practices could not be observed because no other events occurred at the facility during the week of the investigation. The facility was in the process of changing management at the time of the inspection and could not located the employee illness log. Investigators concluded this was a norovirus outbreak associated with a wedding reception. A specific food vehicle and source of contamination was not determined.

Overview

Outbreak began:October 2013
Affected country:US
States/territories:MN
Pathogen:Norovirus
Vehicle(s):Unknown
Location(s):Restaurant
Molecular test results:yes

Health impact

Total ill:17
Number hospitalized:1

Sources & documents

Outbreak documents