Zola Predosa, Italy – The Kayama restaurant in Zola Predosa has resumed operations following a temporary closure prompted by a recent outbreak of gastrointestinal illness. Local health authorities lifted the work stoppage order on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after confirming the source of the outbreak was norovirus. This incident highlights the importance of swift identification of pathogens in potential foodborne illness cases to protect public health.
The restaurant had been closed following an inspection on March 1, 2026, initiated after multiple reports of customers experiencing illness after dining at the establishment. “The reopening follows the favorable outcome of environmental checks carried out at the restaurant for the research of norovirus, which had caused the outbreak,” stated Claudia Mazzetti, director of the Complex Unit of Hygiene and Food Nutrition of the Ausl.
Health officials interviewed 71 individuals as part of their investigation. Of those, six were asymptomatic, five cases were confirmed and the remaining 60 reported gastrointestinal symptoms consistent with the confirmed infections. According to Mazzetti, “In total we interviewed 71 people. Of which 6 were asymptomatic, five confirmed cases and the remaining 60 with gastrointestinal symptoms attributable to the ascertained infected, to such an extent as not to deem it necessary to proceed with further coprocultures to recognize the high probability that it was always norovirus.” Further testing was deemed unnecessary due to the strong likelihood of norovirus being the cause.
The most likely route of transmission remains under investigation, with officials awaiting the results of additional samples. “We cannot establish it with certainty, we are still waiting for the outcome of some samples. In general, the possible routes of transmission are directly from person to person, via oral-fecal or aerosol, or through infected foods at the origin but also through contact with contaminated surfaces or improperly handled food,” Mazzetti explained.
The initial alert was triggered by a report from the Cau of Calderino – Monte San Pietro. Following the initial report, a preventative and infectious disease physician conducted an inspection with a veterinarian and a prevention technician. A thorough sanitation of the restaurant was then ordered and completed.
Following the sanitation, officials conducted swab tests on surfaces throughout the restaurant, including work tables and door handles, and found no evidence of norovirus or other pathogens. In addition to the sanitation, the Ausl provided the restaurant with guidelines for safe food handling and recommended additional training for staff. They also advised the restaurant to send home any employees experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms. “After that, we carried out a series of swabs on the surfaces of the premises such as work tables or handles and ascertained the absence of norovirus or any other pathogen. We provided prescriptions to the restaurant on how to behave when handling food as well as indications for additional staff training and the recommendation to remove employees presenting any gastrointestinal symptoms from the workplace.”
