Dinosaur Bar-B-Que will re-open today after a three-day closure due to health concerns. The popular restaurant voluntarily closed on Thursday after more than 250 people called the Onondaga County Health Department to report sickness as a result of food consumed at the restaurant. There are now well more than 600 reported cases.

The exact agent, nor its source is known, but it is likely viral, said Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow during a press conference Friday. This means the virus spread through air particles that came in contact with the food. Improper hygiene is not at fault, since the virus spreads through the air, and is contagious.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que owner, John Stage, said he will definitely re-open the restaurant today.

‘We’re re-sanitizing everything from head to toe,’ he said. ‘We’re cleaning out air vents. We’re doing everything physically possible. The biggest step we did was close it down, just to stop any more people giving each other any type of virus.’

The restaurant has also thrown out all of its prepared food, because it had been exposed to the contaminated air. Since the virus was airborne, and not in the food, the unopened food is still safe, Morrow said.

Gastrointestinal viruses, like the one suspected here, often result in vomiting or diarrhea. The vomit can be ‘aerosolized,’ meaning particles can enter the air, Morrow said. This causes it to become contagious.

Ken Stigner, a sophomore elementary education major, said he is glad Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is reacting this way.

‘Thank god they do a good job and take as many precautions as possible,’ he said.

Samantha Soto, a sophomore political science major, said she loves the food, and will eventually return to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.

‘I don’t think I’ll order for the time being, but I won’t stop altogether,’ she said. ‘Even after the E. Coli scare, I still eat broccoli. I won’t let it deter me from eating food I like, but I will be more cautious.’

John Monteleone, a graduate student in philosophy, said he is less certain whether he will visit the restaurant again.

‘It definitely makes me reconsider eating there,’ he said. ‘It was good food, but when a place closes down, you ought to think twice.’

The virus also affected Amy Podgorski, a junior interior design major, when one of her classes was cancelled.

‘Our step aerobics teacher was sick because they had Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at one of her teachers’ meetings,’ she said.

After the incident was publicized, more people with the virus contacted the Onondaga County Health Department.

‘The numbers have changed so dramatically in 24 hours,’ Morrow said. ‘It’s due to community awareness. People are now calling in who didn’t think to a week ago.’

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been notified, because people from around the country may have caught the virus. The cases began during Thanksgiving weekend, when people were visiting their families.

Morrow said the restaurant has been very cooperative.

‘So far, they have followed all of our recommendations,’ she said. ‘And if the problem is ongoing, they will voluntarily stay closed.’

She added the 72-hour closing was conservative, and the virus likely ran its course before that. However, she stressed if employees are still sick today, they should not come in for work.

The Onondaga County Health Department doesn’t know the exact agent yet, but food and stool tests should provide the answer by Tuesday.

‘We will learn more about this epidemic after the epidemic has run its course,’ Morrow said.

Published on December 2, 2006 at 12:00 pm