Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - Justin Lansley (20th Feb 2013 - 17:34:21) My family and friends went out for lunch locally last weekend, on the 16th Feb, and 13 out of 19 of us were knocked out by a terrible sickness bug. The sickness started the following evening and lasted between 24 and 48 hours. Several of those affected said it was the worst sickness bug they had ever experienced in their life. Being concerned at the scale of the problem, I immediately contacted the restaurant concerned as well as the East Hants Environmental Health Department. The local authority lady investigating the cause of our illness was superb; in that she was sympathetic, thorough, and an excellent communicator. The end result was that the sickness was something akin to Norovirus, which can easily be transmitted between people, and is a tough virus that can survive on fixtures and fittings for quite a while. The investigation ruled out staff sickness at the restaurant, or food poisoning. The restaurant also claimed nobody else except my party has been affected. Just to add, I don\'t believe it would be fair for me to name the establishment where my family were affected because there was an investigation and no evidence was found. It is possible that one of us was carrying the virus, and spread it to everybody else. However, there was a well publicised case recently at the \"Fat Duck\" in Bray, where hundreds of people were infected with Norovirus caused by a staff member, but it was unresolved for a long time because people informed the restaurant but not the Environmental Health Dept. I am not suggesting that is the case here, but as a general rule people should contact: ehealth@easthants.gov.uk if they have been sick as a result of eating out. I would also be personally interested if anyone has been affected locally last weekend.

Re: Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - local caterer (21st Feb 2013 - 00:52:58) Whist i sympathise with your family and guests who fell ill, I would ask you;did your guests go to a doctor with their problems. The reason I ask this is that if they did, the Doctor would be legally obliged to pass the information on to the Environmental Health Officer at East Hampshire. They would then be legally obliged to investigate your complaint. You kind of imply, that whilst you are satisfied that an investigation has been carried out, that you are not quite happy with their conclusions, asking if any body else in the area suffered the same problems. Norovirus is notoriously easy to pass from 1 human being to another by familial contact. Cartering staff can sterilise as many surfaces as they wish, 1 punter coming in carrying it can spread it around easy. I havn't got a clue as to the establishment you are alluding to, but, possibly you should say, to eliminate the rest of us

Re: Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - Karen Feeney (21st Feb 2013 - 07:55:51) Hi Justin To put your mind at rest, there is a bug doing the rounds. I can speak from personal experience, it's quick, very unpleasant and extremely infectious. My friends are dropping like flies. I think I broke the world land speed record moving from my bed to the bathroom on Sunday.....enough said. Hope you all feel better now!! Karen

Re: Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - H (21st Feb 2013 - 08:27:14) I agree as the investigation seems to conclude the restaurant is not at fault, then it is unfair of you to scare people into eating out locally.

Re: Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - iwik61 (21st Feb 2013 - 08:37:40) Sorry too hear about your recent sickness ,but would like to add if you do say who it is ,you have got your facts right as naming them even, when proved completely innocent can destroy them.You have had it checked out ,what more do you want.Any one who wants to know who it is ,are pure gossip mongers!!!

Re: Norovirus/Sickness bug in local Restaurant - Justin (21st Feb 2013 - 10:16:46) Local Caterer, You make some fair points, and I am certainly not trying to scare people off eating locally! I just wanted to inform people of my experience, and find out if there is a more widespread issue. Regarding going to the doctors, that is seemingly discouraged - their advice was to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluid, and not visit the surgery unless sickness persisted for more than a couple of days or other symptoms manifested. I guess doctors don't want Norovirus carriers sat in their waiting rooms! So in that case people must inform East Hants directly in order for an investigation to take place.

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home