1999 Outbreak of Norovirus at a Company Lunch, Minnesota

Employees who ate at a company in Bloomington between February 21 and February 24 developed gastroenteritis. A grand opening celebration was held at the company on February 21. On February 24, employees ate box lunches or from a buffet. All meals were prepared in the company kitchen. Pasta salad served as part of the box lunch, and strawberries served at the buffet, were associated with risk of illness. All stool samples tested negative for E. coli O157:H7, Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. The eight stool samples tested for calicivirus were positive. The association of illness with two foods prepared in the same kitchen suggests that foods were contaminated by a food worker, but no ill food workers were identified.

Overview

Outbreak began:February 1999
Affected country:US
States/territories:MN
Pathogen:Norovirus
Vehicle(s):Unknown
Location(s):Workplace
Molecular test results:no

Health impact

Total ill:63

Sources & documents

Report / reference links