Illinois Arby's restaurant linked to nearly 100 norovirus cases

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Arby's often boast that it has "the meats," but one location also has the norovirus.

An Illinois Arby’s restaurant temporarily closed this week after nearly 100 people were sickened after eating there.

Local health officials said 92 cases of norovirus had been linked to the restaurant on Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, Illinois, The State Journal-Register reported.

An Illinois Arby’s restaurant temporarily closed this week after nearly 100 people were sickened after eating there. (iStock)

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Norovirus causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is "very contagious" and can be transmitted via direct contact with an infected person, by consuming contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth with unwashed hands.

Health department records show that an inspector visited the Arby’s on March 1 following a complaint.

Norovirus causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The restaurant shut on Monday for deep cleaning and employee training at the recommendation of Sangamon County health officials, the Journal-Register reported. Officials said the store’s management was taking it seriously.

"Arby's is committed to the highest levels of hygiene and food safety standards, and this is an isolated incident at a franchised location," an Arby's spokesperson said in an email. "Last week, out of an abundance of caution, the franchisee proactively decided to close the restaurant through the end of the month. The franchisee is fully engaged with the local health department and has conducted a professional deep clean, reinforced food safety training with all employees, and will have met all health department guidelines before reopening."

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 An informative CDC video demonstrates how to clean up after someone with norovirus vomits or has diarrhea, noting that "vomit and poop can splatter in all directions."

To prevent the spread of norovirus, the CDC recommends frequent hand-washing, rinsing fruits and vegetables, thoroughly cooking shellfish, staying home when sick (and for two days after symptoms stop) and avoiding preparing food for others while sick (and for two days after symptoms stop).

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This wasn’t the first time this Arby’s closed over this issue. It had just reopened a week earlier after shutting down in February after 40 people suffered food poisoning from eating there, WAND reported.