Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Norovirus,Outbreaks & Recalls on November 15, 2024
Seattle’s King County announces norovirus outbreak at Kirkland McDonald’s is over.
I’ll take a cheeseburger and a side of norovirus.
Said no one. Ever!
But that could be what happened for some patrons at a certain Kirkland, Washington McDonald’s restaurant.
Three people, with no other connections besides eating at the same McDonald’s restaurant, were diagnosed with norovirus – a foodborne illness that can cause serious dehydration.
While King County health officials have indicated that the outbreak risk has passed, others may have been impacted in the outbreak.
Here’s what we know about the norovirus outbreak at Kirkland McDonald’s and how to know if you were involved.
The three, unrelated and unassociated individuals, all ate at the same McDonald’s location in Kirkland, Washington.
The 8515 124th Avenue NE was the restaurant location in question.
Kirkland McDonald’s
8515 124th Ave NE
Kirkland, Washington 98033
So far, no other locations have been impacted by the outbreak.
According to outbreak patient data, people became sick after eating at the restaurant in late October. Patients reported eating food from this restaurant between October 23, 2024 and October 26, 2024.
Meal Dates: October 23, 2024 through October 26, 2024
These patients reported their first signs of illness between October 25, 2024 and October 26, 2024.
Following reports of three individuals (who do not know each other) becoming sick after eating food from the same McDonald’s restaurant location, King County Health initiated an investigation.
According to the outbreak investigation report, King County Health investigators visited the restaurant on October 29, 2024.
No obvious risk factors for norovirus were observed.
“We did not find any unsafe food practices related to the spread of norovirus (such as improper handwashing or touching food with bare hands).”
The investigators did, however, indicate a cooking time and temperature violation in their report. “Proper cooking time and temperature proper use of noncontinuous cooking).”
During that time, investigators did not identify any sick restaurant workers. However, those infected with norovirus can still be contagious with only mild symptoms. Or even no symptoms at all.
On November 1, 2024, King County Health investigators revisited the restaurant. During this visit, restaurant staff were asked to follow their norovirus cleaning protocols and complete a deep cleaning of the restaurant.
An education session was performed to review with restaurant management the health code requirements for sick workers. Sick food workers should not report to work until they are symptom free for at least 48 hours. Managers were also provided education about preventing the spread of norovirus. This information included topics like proper handwashing and preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
According to the restaurant’s health and safety inspection report, an additional visit to the restaurant took place on November 4, 2024. Likely to confirm the norovirus cleaning protocol was performed.
Nothing of note was added to the this date.
Over the past five years, this Kirkland McDonald’s restaurant location has received several warnings during routine inspection activities.
More than once, they have been warned about proper cold holding temperatures. Previously, they were warned about keeping raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food types. Several years ago, they were cited for adequate handwashing facilities and improperly installed warewashing facilities.
The details for the handwashing and warewashing facilities were not disclosed, however these warnings are usually issued when water temperatures are not up to safety code standards.
Norovirus is a tiny germ responsible for a lot of illnesses. One that is easily spread. Which is why it comes up so frequently in foodborne outbreak investigations.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that there are around 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year! This bad bug causes around 58% of the foodborne illnesses acquired in the United States each year!
Norovirus is spread through direct contact with someone who is already infected with the virus or consuming contaminated food or water. You can also become sick from touching contaminated surfaces and putting your unwashed hands in your mouth or eating.
Norovirus infections are spread through what is known as “fecal-oral route.”
Context clues probably tell you exactly what that means. And it really is as gross as it sounds.
However, it only takes a microscopic amount (trace amounts so small they cannot be perceived) to spread the illness.
The virus lives and grows in the digestive system of the infected host. It leaves the host during bowel movements and is found in the feces of the infected person.
Poor hygiene activities after using the restroom is the most common mode of transmission. When an infected person does not wash their hands or ineffectively washes their hands after using the restroom, they can spread the illness.
Helping someone in the restroom or changing the diaper of an infected person without adequate handwashing can also spread the illness.
It doesn’t take much to spread this illness. One inadequate handwash in an infected food service worker can contaminate work surfaces and food, leading to a norovirus outbreak in restaurant patrons and/or other restaurant employees.
The most notable symptoms of norovirus infection are vomiting and diarrhea. It is sometimes referred to as “the stomach bug” or “stomach flu” despite being an entirely unrelated virus from influenza.
Besides, nobody wants to think about how they actually got sick – contact with infected poop.
Common symptoms of norovirus infection include:
There is no cure for norovirus. No antibiotic treatment is effective against this type of infection.
If infected, your best bet is to hydrate and rest until symptoms subside. If symptoms become severe or you become dehydrated, seek medical attention right away.
Unfortunately, most norovirus infections go undiagnosed and unreported. This is because symptoms tend to be too mild to seek medical attention.
Not reporting this type of illness can cause the problem to go on. While most people can recover without major illness, some people (like the very young, the very old, and those with a weakened immune system) can become seriously ill.
Reporting your illness allows investigators to investigate a potential outbreak before it continues to spread and potentially cause serious harm to those more vulnerable to complications.
If you were impacted by the norovirus outbreak at Kirkland McDonald’s and have questions about making a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer that can help!
An experienced norovirus lawyer can help you through the difficult process of gathering all of the information needed to successfully hold those responsible for foodborne illness accountable.
Call The Lange Law Firm, PLLC at (833) 330-3663 for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation and determine if you have a legal case. Or click here for the online submission form to send an email instead.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)