Norovirus Outbreak At Local Pho Restaurant Reported

SEATTLE, WA - King County health officials have closed a pho restaurant in West Seattle after at least three diners came down with suspected norovirus. The health department has not confirmed that the illnesses are norovirus, but the symptoms - diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea - are consistent with that illness.

Three people who ate at Pho Aroma, 5605 Delridge Way Southwest, on Jan. 13 came down with gastrointestinal symptoms. They reported the illnesses to the health department on Jan. 16.

King County health investigators visited the restaurant on Jan. 17 and found that two employees there had recently been sick with a gastrointestinal illness. The county closed the restaurant so it can be cleaned. The restaurant will reopen once county investigators verify that it is clean and that employees are symptom-free.

Norovirus is an extremely contagious illness that's especially common during winter months. Norovirus causes nasty gastrointestinal symptoms for up to 48 hours. Even after symptoms disappear, a person can still spread norovirus for up to a week.

To learn more about norovirus and how to prevent it, visit King County's norovirus webpage.

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Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control