HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Fifty staff members and parents were sickened with confirmed norovirus after a catered event at Clark Elementary School in Hillsborough County.
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County investigated a large foodborne illness outbreak following a catered event for teachers at the school on May 9.
The event was catered by a local restaurant.
More than 100 staff ate the meal and around 50 reported becoming sick.
As of Wednesday, the Health Department is not aware of any students getting sick.
Norovirus was identified as the cause following an investigation.
A joint inspection with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation was carried out at the restaurant that catered the food.
The inspection found recently ill staff with norovirus-like symptoms who were involved with preparation of the ready-to-eat food items.
Symptoms of norovirus include diarrhea, vomiting, low-grade fever, abdominal pain, nausea and headache.
FDOH-Hillsborough said in a letter to school staff that anyone experiencing the symptoms should not return to work, child care or school unt 48 hours after all symptoms have stopped.
A spokeswoman with Hillsborough County Schools said custodians have thoroughly cleaned all surfaces in the school.
