A couple of years ago U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention noro dude, Aron Hall, called norovirus “the perfect human pathogen” in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Hall said with its low median infectious dose and stability, norovirus is built to be transferred.
Beyond its durability, billions of particles can be shed in every gram of feces and vomit from an infected individual and can be transferred well via fomites, food and water.
Sort of a nightmare for a restaurant if one of their kitchen staff shows up to work ill.
Or two of them.
According to the Vancouver Sun, that’s what happened last at Craft Beer Market.
Vancouver’s 500-seat Craft Beer Market was shut down by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Wednesday because of a suspected Norovirus outbreak that could cost the company up to $20,000.
The pub-like restaurant at 85 West First, which boasts Canada’s largest craft beer selection, was closed at noon after a half dozen patrons reported being ill on the weekend, VCH said.
It was also confirmed that a few staff have been ill at work this week, so there is potential for more patrons to become ill as norovirus is highly contagious.
“Our best estimate is that it will be a couple of days before it can reopen,” said VCH director of public affairs, Gavin Wilson, in an interview. “But that’s subject to change, of course.”
Wilson said the closure order will allow for cleaning and sanitizing of the entire establishment, and that the order will be lifted when VCH is satisfied there is no further risk of transmission.
Owner-operator Scott Frank said in a release that the health and safety of their guests is a priority, adding that the restaurant was closed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of guests.
Frank said that the restaurant wasn’t given a formal closure notice and that just two guests and two patrons came down with “symptoms of stomach flu.”
One Craft Beer Market Facebook’s page has some info:
We take the health and safety of our guests and team members very seriously. A couple of our team members haven’t been feeling well and as a precautionary measure we have closed the restaurant as we work with Coastal Health to identify and rectify any areas of concern. Please note that no causes have been identified at this time. We will keep you posted as the day goes on. Thank you for you understanding and patience.
And a timeline that lists: