Health officials of the United Kingdom have revealed that Fat Duck staff members may have continued working at the restaurant although infected with the norovirus Winter Vomiting Disease and that happened to be the major reason of the problem.

What makes it so dangerous? In order to comprehend this disease’s nefarious influence we have to know the disease first. Norovirus is an RNA virus of the Caliciviridae taxonomic family. This virus causes approximately 90% of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world, and may be responsible for 50% of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the US. Norovirus affects people of all ages. The virus is transmitted by facially contaminated food or water and by person-to-person contact.

On the other hand, according to the estimation of the National Health Service, this very disease of Norovirus affects up to 1 million people each year in the United Kingdom. How can it spread? It can be by means of contact with an infected person, through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus, or by eating contaminated food or water.

All these indicate the mayhem this disease can spread. The viewpoint of the health officials with regard to the Fat Duck staff members has been almost identical. In an e-mailed statement the agency said, “The Health Protection Agency has detected norovirus infection in six staff and eight diners and weaknesses in how staff sickness was identified and dealt with.” “Based on staff interviews, sickness records and samples taken, it is clear that staff worked while still infectious with norovirus.”

It is to be noted that lots of diners made serious complaints of diarrhea and vomiting after eating at Chef Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant in the west of London and the number has risen to 529 by now. The Fat Duck, known for innovative dishes such as snail porridge, closed for more than two weeks and reopened on March 12 only after the agency and environmental health officers issued guidance on the identification and management of staff illness.

We must conclude, although the mistake was unpremeditated, it was a professional disgrace.