Winona Restaurant Linked to Nororvirus Outbreak

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota health officials say a Winona County restaurant has temporarily closed after being linked to a foodborne illness that has sickened about 30 people.

The Winona Daily News reports county health officials announced the norovirus

outbreak Wednesday and urged residents to avoid spreading the highly-contagious illness.

Minnesota Health Department spokesman Doug Schultz says Ground Round restaurant in Winona voluntarily closed to clean the facility after learning the virus was confirmed in customers. He says the virus isn't linked to a single event and is being transmitted in the community, so more people are likely to get sick.

Doug Schultz says there are about 40 outbreaks of foodborne illness in Minnesota each year, and roughly 60 percent of them are norovirus.

The restaurant's owner says it plans to reopen soon.