Nearly 400 Cases of Norovirus tied to Theater Restaurant in Kansas

Almost 400 people have fallen ill from a norovirus outbreak that has been tied to a restaurant located in a Kansas City theater.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environmental initially reported on Wednesday that at least 100 people got sick after eating at the New Theater Restaurant, which is located in Overland Park. The department modified that number to more than 390 people on Thursday.

Norovirus was confirmed in samples taken from four patients.

The department has been investigating the source of the outbreak. The theater restaurant has reportedly been cooperating fully.

The vice president of sales and marketing at the restaurant, Rob McGraw confirmed to The Kansas City Star that three employees tested positive for norovirus. The virus was also confirmed in a man who attended a Jan. 17 matinee performance and was served by these employees.

"They say, 'We know this is not your fault, and we will continue to come,'" McGraw said. "The theater, the entire theater, is thoroughly cleaned every day."

The state department is asking everyone who attended the theater on Jan. 15 and onward to fill out a confidential survey here.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread via food, water or person-to-person contact. Common symptoms of an infection include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and aches.

This is the first outbreak of Norovirus this year. Last year, there were two outbreaks tied to a Chipotle in Boston and another Chipotle in California.