Officials: 45 ill from dining at Honolulu restaurant
HONOLULU (AP) — Up to 45 people have become sick after dining at a Honolulu restaurant where six cases of norovirus were confirmed, Hawaii Department of Health officials said.
Herringbone Waikiki voluntarily closed on Thursday after Health Department officials said people who dined at the restaurant fell ill. All recovered after a couple of days.
“Exposure appears to have been limited to those dining at the restaurant over the past weekend,” department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said. “The investigation is still underway with lab test results pending.”
Restaurant spokesman Rob Mora said they have worked closely with the Health Department since the illnesses were reported, and the health of their guests remains their top priority. Food safety inspectors cleared the restaurant for reopening on Friday after it was thoroughly cleaned.
“In alignment with the Department of Health, we cleaned four times everything top to bottom, up to 7 feet,” Mora said.
Health Department officials launched an investigation after receiving a report on Monday from a person who said a group of five all became sick after dining at the restaurant, which is near the iconic Waikiki Beach lined with high-rise resorts. Inspectors visited the restaurant on Tuesday to investigate and collect samples. All restaurant staff will undergo training regarding hygiene, Mora said.
Norovirus is a leading cause of illnesses from contaminated food, and employees infected by it are frequent sources of an outbreak. Stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of the highly contagious illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At least 5 whales dead after mass stranding
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — At least five pilot whales have died in Hawaii after becoming stranded on a beach on Kauai.
A volunteer effort was mounted on Friday morning to push the whales back to deep water after the U.S. Coast Guard station on the island received a report that at least seven whales were on Kalapaki Beach.
Two of the whales died that morning, but volunteers were able to herd five back out to sea. By the evening, three more whales were discovered dead.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coordinator David Schofield said that whales typically become stranded because of natural disease. He says there’s a possibility that more whales could become stranded because it’s believed that more whales are in the area. Pilot whales travel in large pods.
Vessel that ran aground off shore of Oahu catches fire
HONOLULU (AP) — A U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessel that ran aground off the shore of Waikiki earlier this week caught fire Saturday.
Police say the fire on the 79-foot Pacific Paradise was reported about 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Coast Guard had been working to remove pollutants from the vessel, which ran aground on Tuesday.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir said Wednesday that officials were trying to get diesel fuel off the boat, which carries 13,000 gallons of gas and hydraulic oils. Muir said there was no sign that any fuel had leaked into the water.
