Kansas: Norovirus confirmed in Buffalo Wild Wings investigation

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has received confirmation of one positive case of norovirus associated with the investigation at Buffalo Wild Wings at the end of January. Additional results are pending lab confirmation. There have been no further reports of illness.

Earlier this week, 10 cases of a gastrointestinal illness were linked to the Buffalo Wild Wings in Overland Park.

Johnson County , Kansas map/David Benbennick

“These types of illness are common this time of year,” said Lougene Marsh, JCDHE’s director. “The best thing you can do is wash your hands properly and stay home when you are sick to prevent the spread of these types of illness.”

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that often goes by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.

The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills,headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people, the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults do.

Norovirus is spread person to person particularly in crowded, closed places. Norovirus is typically spread through contaminated food and water, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth and close contact with someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea.