FAYETTEVILLE -- State health officials believe a norovirus likely caused people to get sick after visiting JJ's Beer Garden and Brewing Co. on the north side of town.
A norovirus is highly contagious and can be transferred through contact with an infected person, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Consuming contaminated food or water also can spread the virus.
Report an illness
Anyone who experienced diarrhea or vomting 24 to 36 hours after visiting JBGB since Sept. 13 should notify the Arkansas Department of Health at (501) 537-8969 or adh.foodsafe@arkans….
Source: Arkansas Department of Health
State health department officials think the norovirus in this instance was most likely transferred through person-to-person contact, although the investigation is not complete.
The department received 101 reported complaints of illness from patrons of the restaurant and music venue at 3615 Steele Blvd. as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Meg Mirivel, public information officer.
Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. Customers reported experiencing the illness 24 to 36 hours after visiting JBGB.
The department announced Monday evening in a news release it had received 51 such complaints. Health officials recommended anyone who had been at the restaurant since Sept. 13 contact officials.
Health specialists have visited the business multiple times since the illnesses were reported and found the restaurant to be in compliance, said Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist. Past infractions have been minor and don't explain the outbreak, he said.
Investigators have collected several food samples, interviewed customers and employees and taken clinical samples, Haselow said. Laboratory workers in Little Rock will analyze the samples to find a cause.
"Our inspections haven't really identified a smoking gun," he said. "However, the occurrence of illness has dropped off to very low levels -- but not quite zero yet. So we are trying to figure out whether we're seeing ongoing person-to-person transmission among those who were exposed initially, or whether there's anything else going on."
Restaurant outbreaks are uncommon, but when they do happen a norovirus is the most likely culprit, Haselow said.
"They are always a little bit dramatic because they are explosive in all senses of the word," he said. "They happen fast, and they go away fast."
State health officials have interviewed three JBGB employees who got sick, Haselow said. Those employees then stayed home from work, which helped mitigate the risk to the public, he said.
The restaurant has been open as usual. Matt Hamm, vice president of JJ's Grill and JBGB, which operates 10 restaurants in Arkansas, said in a statement after speaking with health officials that it appeared a customer or employee caused the illness.
"At this point, nothing seems to indicate there was any mishandling of food or other violation of health regulations by JBGB that would have caused our customers' symptoms," he said. "We very much hope to have the answer to share soon."
Haselow said the department should have clearer information within the next few days.
NW News on 09/26/2018