Norovirus outbreak associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits

Summary

Public Health investigated an outbreak of norovirus associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits. We found multiple sick restaurant workers who reported signs of norovirus, a very common cause of stomach sickness. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chills. Norovirus can spread through contaminated food items, environmental surfaces, and from person to person.

This outbreak is over, and our investigation is complete.

Illnesses

Since July 6, 2024, six people have reported becoming sick after eating food at Sammamish Cafe & Spirits. One additional person, who lives in the same home as someone who became sick, developed signs of norovirus but did not eat food from the restaurant. This person likely became sick from the sick person they live with. Everyone had one or more signs consistent with norovirus illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and chills.

We found multiple sick restaurant workers who reported signs consistent with norovirus dating back to July 4, 2024.

Public Health actions

On July 12, 2024, we closed Sammamish Cafe & Spirits so they could do a thorough cleaning and disinfection. We asked the restaurant to follow their norovirus cleaning plan because we suspected norovirus made the people sick.

On July 15, 2024, we returned to the restaurant to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection was done by the restaurant. We also looked if any restaurant workers recently called out sick and found several restaurant workers who reported signs of norovirus from July 4 through July 12, 2024. None of these restaurant workers worked while sick. We reviewed with restaurant management the requirement that when sick workers are suspected to have norovirus, they are not allowed to work until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours. We also provided education about preventing the spread of norovirus — including correct handwashing and preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

After we confirmed the restaurant had done a deep cleaning, they were allowed to reopen on July 15, 2024.

On October 18, 2024, we did a routine inspection of the restaurant and did not find things that could increase the risk for norovirus spread.

Laboratory testing

Three of the seven people who became sick did testing. Two of the people tested positive for norovirus.