CORECTION: I initially misread the blog post by the Sac Bee's Chris Macias. That blog post is in reference to a separate norovirus outbreak. Thanks to an eagle eyed reader for pointing this out. Corrected info below.

Sacramento was atwitter Wednesday over the possibility that the upscale Mulvaney's was the source of a norovirus outbreak earlier this month. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus, usually spread through contaminated water or food, that causes vomiting, digestive issues, etc.

Per the Sac Bee's Chris Macias:

According to Dr. Olivia Kasirye, county public health officer, two people connected to the restaurant have tested positive for norovirus. Mulvaney said one was an employee and the other a diner. The name and nature of the employee's work is confidential, and the final investigation results, including the possible number of infected people, are expected within two weeks.

Given that no further incidents have been reported at the restaurant at 1215 19th St. since late February, Mulvaney's B&L remains open. The restaurant passed its most recent county inspection on Feb. 13 and has continued to operate during the norovirus investigation.

"We don't usually shut (a restaurant) down unless we feel there's an ongoing risk to the public," Kasirye said. "We have not received any reports of illnesses since then."

Read the entire article in the Sac Bee, or watch Tuesday's KCRA report above.

However, after more investigation, Sacramento county health officials have cleared Mulvaney's and found the real culprit, identified the source of a separate outbreak in 2012, the Elks Lodge on Riverside Bivd. Again, from the Bee's Macias.

It turns out the outbreak didn't occur at a restaurant, but Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on Riverside Boulevard near Florin Road. The lodge hosted an event in September of 2012 in which dozens of people were sickened. The lodge did not use an outside caterer, but provided food service themselves, said Kasirye. A county investigation interviewed 93 individuals, and confirmed 57 illnesses due to norovirus.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

I'm glad that one of Sacramento's finest restaurants wasn't involved in this. We can again eat there without worry.

Whatever the source, it appears that Mulvaney's is trying its best to take care of the affected customers. One of my coworkers dined there during that time period and got sick. Mulvaney's later comped that meal and gave him an additional free dinner.

Click here for more posts about Mulvaney's B&L.

More News:

Hank Shaw nominated for 3rd James Beard Award; Frank Fat's nominated as an American classic - Sacramento-area food blogger Hank Shaw has been nominated a third time for a prestigious James Beard Award and, in something of a surprise, venerable Sacramento restaurant Frank Fat's has received a nomination in a special category, "America's Classics." Shaw, 42, a longtime newspaper journalist who parlayed a well-received blog into a new and successful writing career, says he is happy to be recognized once again by the James Beard Foundation - and he's not yet ready to think of himself as the Susan Lucci of the food-writing set. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

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