EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) — The long-awaited $1 burrito deal at a popular Evanston eatery has left Northwestern students and Evanston residents with an unexpected turn of events.
On Wednesday, the Evanston Health and Human Services Department issued a warning about a norovirus outbreak connected to the burrito special.
People who visited Big Wig Tacos & Burritos for the $1 burrito event on Saturday, Nov. 18, complained of stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, sparking an investigation by the health department and Northwestern University.
The event, which took place between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., prompted immediate complaints to the health department, leading to an inspection of Big Wig Tacos & Burritos. The department reviewed the cleaning and sanitizing procedures of the restaurant and confirmed an existing employee health policy.
Despite the outbreak, Big Wig Tacos & Burritos fully cooperated with the investigation, the health department assured.
All individuals who dined at the restaurant on the specified date have been asked to complete a questionnaire, irrespective of whether they displayed symptoms or not. You can access the questionnaire here.
Norovirus, often dubbed the “stomach flu,” is unrelated to influenza, according to Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago.
The virus can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain, with Dr. Wallace suggesting that it likely spread through contaminated food. She emphasized that handwashing is crucial in food preparation environments to prevent the virus from spreading.
In addition to person-to-person transmission, the virus can also survive on surfaces and liquids. The extent of its impact on students at the event remains uncertain.
Dr. Wallace cautioned that norovirus typically lasts between one and three days and urged those affected to stay hydrated to prevent severe dehydration.
Despite efforts to contact Big Wig Tacos & Burritos, the restaurant had not responded by late Wednesday, and appeared to be closing for the day when visited by reporters.
