With a mouse as a mascot, does a viral outbreak seem that odd?

MPR and AP report that Minnesota health officials are trying to track down people who may have been exposed to norovirus at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Woodbury last weekend.

“As of (Wednesday), we know there had been 60 calls made and about 50 percent of those were reporting symptoms,” said Jean Streetar, Washington County’s public health program manager.

Those symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.

Health officials are urging people to take extra measures to wash their hands and isolate people who may be ill. The virus is considered very contagious, although no hospitalizations have been reported so far.

As many as 1,000 people a day may go through the restaurant.

Noroviruses are common causes of food poisoning and spread through contaminated surfaces, food and beverages. Besides vomiting and diarrhea, the illness can cause abdominal pain, headaches, body aches.

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 43 outbreaks of norovirus since the beginning of November.