Officials investigate Shoreline burger restaurant for outbreak of norovirus-like illness; 23 sickened

SHORELINE, Wash. — King County Public Health is investigating an outbreak of norovirus-like illness connected to a burger restaurant in Shoreline.

Officials said since May 24, 23 people from six unrelated meal parties reported getting sick after eating food from Habit Burger Grill May 21-24.

One person was hospitalized.

Health investigators visited the restaurant on May 26 and didn’t find any risk factors that are known to contribute to the spread of norovirus.

No ill employees have yet to be identified, officials said.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads from person to person and is often food-related.

The virus often has a sudden onset of nausea and vomiting and/or watery diarrhea with cramps. A low-grade fever, chills and body aches sometimes occur.

Bill Marler is a food safety attorney and says it can be very hard to track down the source.

“Sometimes you never can figure out what the cause is. Was it an ill employee, was it an ill guest who came in early in the morning and was sick, was it contaminated food products?”

He thinks it is likely more than 23 people got sick at the restaurant and didn’t report it. He said it isn’t too late to tell the health department if you got sick.

“The more people who get sick and can remember what they ate, when they were there, the more likely it is you’ll be able to triangulate in on what the likely product was, or was the same employee working there every day,” explained Marler.

KIRO-7 contacted the corporate office for The Habit Burger Grill and is still waiting for a comment.

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