Survey indicates Windjammer norovirus outbreak in March widespread

Vermont health officials say new numbers show over 500 diners were sickened by the norovirus outbreak that hit a South Burlington back in March.

Following the outbreak at the Windjammer, the Health Department put out a survey for anyone who'd eaten at the restaurant. They say over a 1,000 questionnaires were returned, and from those answers officials learned that 479 people experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps after eating at the Windjammer between March 9th and 23rd.

Sixty-seven more cases were identified of people who did not dine at the Windjammer but got sick because of a member of their household that ate there. No single food item was associated with the illnesses.

The restaurant voluntarily closed for 48 hours. After that, zero cases of illness were reported by diners. Based on all of of the information, it appears that the outbreak was associated with food handlers working while sick with norovirus.