Restaurant’s $1 burritos leave Northwestern University students with cramps, vomiting and diarrhea – as health department launches investigation

• Students from Northwestern contracted norovirus after they had $1 burritos at Big Wig Tacos & Wings 
• They reported that they experienced vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea 
• It is unclear if the virus came from the restaurant but the Chicago chain has fully cooperated with the investigation 

Northwestern University students say they became violently ill after eating $1 burritos at an Illinois restaurant.  

The Evanston Health and Human Services Department have now launched an investigation after confirming the group contracted norovirus.

Those affected ate at the Big Wig Tacos & Burritos restaurant near the campus on November 18 where the burritos were being sold exclusively to Northwestern students. 

The health department said that they started to receive complaints two days later of people vomiting, experiencing diarrhea and cramps. 

According to the health department, the norovirus breakout is linked to the burrito special. Big Wig has fully cooperated with the investigation. 

Students were exclusively sold $1 burritos at Big Wig Tacos & Burritos restaurant near the campus on November 18 

Diners who ate at the restaurant were asked to fill out a questionnaire ever if they didn’t have any symptoms.   

Health officials inspected the Chicago chain restaurant’s cleaning and sanitizing procedures and found they do have an active employee health policy. 

In a statement from the company, they said that they are aware that norovirus outbreaks are more common in university settings, and went on to ’emphasize’ their ‘commitment to the health and well-being of our patrons and staff.’

They said they ‘are not certain’ if the outbreak emerged from the restaurant or not, but have still gone on to take appropriate actions ‘to address the situation.’ 

Following the incident, Big Wig said that have made sure to fully sanitize the establishment, with direct focus on places that are more susceptible to virus transmission. 

Employees from the restaurant are also being closely monitored for similar symptoms, but none have displayed any. 

Norovirus is most commonly known as the stomach flu that can cause inflammation in the stomach or intestines and lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is ‘highly contagious’ and is known to spread ‘very easily’ in multiple ways. 

Some of the ways that the virus can spread is through direct contact with someone who has norovirus, eating foods or drinking liquids that are contaminated with it, or by simply touching surfaces that have it. 

Symptoms can occur within 12 to 48 hours after a person has contracted the virus and typically start to improve in one to three days.   

The CDC reported that the virus is the most contagious when you have symptoms and during the first couple of days after a person starts to feel better. 

Students from Northwestern University (pictured) experienced diarrhea, vomiting and cramping after they ate $1 burritos from Big Wig Tacos & Burritos

Big Wig said that they ‘are not certain’ if the outbreak emerged from the restaurant or not and have fully cooperated with the investigation

‘However, studies have shown that you can still spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better,’ the CDC said. 

The virus can be avoided by regularly washing hands thoroughly with soap and water. 

CBS News Chicago reported that when they stopped by the location on Wednesday, the restaurant ‘appeared to be closing for the day.’ 

Last month a restaurant in Maine warned customers they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A after it spread by an infected employee. 

The the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that an employee at Marco’s Italian Restaurant in Lewiston, Maine came to work several days last month while they were infected with the disease. 

There were no reported cases of customers or other employees contracting Hepatitis A.  

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