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Kansas Health Authorities Now Say More Than 390 Affected In Norovirus Outbreak

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Kansas health authorities now say that more than 390 people have reported getting ill after attending the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says it’s expanding its investigation of norovirus infection after receiving the reports.

The new number is about quadruple the number the agency reported on Wednesday, when it said more than 100 people who attended performances at the popular dinner theater restaurant had become ill. Four people were confirmed to have come down with the virus, which is highly contagious.

KDHE is asking anyone who attended the theater since Friday, Jan. 15, irrespective of whether they became ill, to fill out a confidential online survey at http://tinyurl.com/newtheatre2016.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It causes 19 million to 21 million illnesses annually and is the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks.

Dan Margolies, editor of the Heartland Health Monitor team, is based at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.

Dan Margolies has been a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, and KCUR Public Radio. He retired as a reporter in December 2022 after a 37-year journalism career.
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