A recent outbreak of norovirus at Sushi Nine restaurant in Raleigh has resulted in over 240 customers reporting illness. The outbreak began on November 28, and the first official reports were made on November 30. Subsequent investigations by Wake County Public Health and Wake County Environmental Services have confirmed that three of the stool samples collected from complainants tested positive for norovirus. Although this sample size represents a small portion of those who fell ill, it provides strong evidence that the restaurant was the source of the outbreak.

On December 9, Wake County Environmental Services announced that it was investigating over 140 cases of foodborne illness associated with Sushi Nine. Since then, another 100 complaints have been filed, bringing the total number of reported illnesses to 241. The exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown, but health officials are currently interviewing the affected customers to identify potential sources of contamination.

Sushi Nine voluntarily closed for 48 hours following the initial reports of illness but has since reopened. Austin Freels, who dined at the restaurant with his family and friends just days before his wedding, experienced severe stomach pain and other symptoms associated with norovirus. Even after over a week, Freels has not fully recovered.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can spread through direct contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or contaminated surfaces. If you dined at Sushi Nine between November 28 and December 5 and experienced illness, please report your symptoms to the Wake County Communicable Disease Hotline at 919-250-4462 to assist in the ongoing investigation.