Evanston, Ill. (CBS) — A deal for a $1 burrito at a downtown Evanston restaurant turned out to be bad news for Northwestern students and Evanston residents.
The Evanston Department of Health and Human Services warned Wednesday that it is monitoring a norovirus outbreak linked to a burrito special.
The department is investigating the outbreak with Northwestern University. Investigators learned that people reported stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea after eating at Big Wig Tacos & Burritos at the restaurant’s 1 Burrito event for university students on Saturday, Nov. 18.
The event took place last Saturday between 1pm and 8pm. Big Wig Tacos & Burritos at 950 Church St. Located in downtown Evanston.
Soon after, the Evanston Department of Health and Human Services began receiving complaints — prompting an immediate inspection of Big Wig Tacos and Burritos. The department reviewed the restaurant’s cleaning and sanitation procedures, and found that the restaurant has an employee health policy.
Big Wig is cooperating fully with the investigation, the department said.
Everyone who dined at Big Wig Tacos & Burritos in Evanston on Saturday, November 18th is asked to complete This queryRegardless of their illness.
Norovirus is often called the “stomach flu,” but it has nothing to do with the flu.
“It’s its own virus,” said Dr. Kathryn Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Norovirus can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
In such cases, Dr. Wallace said the virus can be transmitted through food.
“Handwashing is extremely important for prevention, and that’s why every bathroom in a restaurant you see says ‘Employees must wash hands before returning to work’ — because that’s really important when you’re preparing food for people,” Wallace said. . “That’s the main way it spreads in a restaurant environment – someone with norovirus uses their bare hands to prepare food.”
The virus can be transmitted through surfaces, fluids, and person-to-person. It is not clear how many students were affected.
“Norovirus usually lasts one to three days,” Wallace said. “It could be a very sad couple of days for people.”
Wallace emphasized the importance of hydration when dealing with a norovirus infection.
“Sometimes it can lead to hospitalization. Usually not,” she said. “But it’s very important for those people to drink a lot of water – because what makes the disease worse is when people get dehydrated.”
We reached out to Big Wig Tacos and Burritos, but hadn’t heard back by late Wednesday.
When we stopped in the Evanston area, it looked like the restaurant was closed for the day.