Gastrointestinal Illness Grips Diners at Lansing Area Restaurant

Recent reports of gastrointestinal illness connected to the consumption of food at the Carrabba's on West Saginaw Highway in Lansing on May 7th and 8th has a local health department issuing warnings and tips.

In a release, The Barry-Eaton District Health Department says that if you are ill or caring for someone who may have a gastrointestinal illness, they suggest that you follow CDC guidelines for norovirus as follows:

Wash your hands well and often. Use warm water and soap and scrub all parts of your hands, including underneath your fingernails, and wrists.

• Use a dilute bleach solution (1/3 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water) to clean up vomit or diarrhea. Wear gloves. Be sure to clean high-touch surfaces, such as faucet handles, doorknobs, and table tops.
• Wash contaminated clothing at a high temperature and separately from other clothing.  Dry at a high temperature separately from uncontaminated clothing.
• If you have been ill, you should avoid preparing food for others for 48 hours after symptoms have ended completely.
• If you have been ill, you should not return to work or school for 48 hours after symptoms have ended completely.

The management at Carrabba's has cooperated with the investigation by BEDHD, and did close down for disinfection.