In Shiga Prefecture, a mass food poisoning outbreak at the 'Enyuu no Sato' nursing home in Kusatsu City has resulted in 83 reported cases of illness among residents aged 46 to 103, with 2 individuals in their 80s succumbing to the illness. The prefectural authorities have confirmed the outbreak as food poisoning after detecting norovirus in the stools of staff involved in food preparation. The residents experienced severe symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea following the consumption of meals prepared by a catering company.

The food poisoning was traced back to meals supplied on the 3rd of the month, which included items like inari sushi and kombu rolls, prepared by the Osaka-based catering service 'Higashisumiyoshi Marutama Foods'. Following reports from the nursing home to the Kusatsu Health Center, the health authorities took immediate action, effectively shutting down the catering company for four days due to the outbreak. There are concerns over how the outbreak occurred, particularly regarding food safety regulations and the quality control measures in place at both the nursing home and the catering service.

Although the situation is serious, the connection between the illnesses and the two fatalities remains uncertain. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak to determine how the contamination occurred and to prevent future incidents. This incident raises significant concerns about food safety in care facilities, which serve vulnerable populations, highlighting the need for strict adherence to food safety protocols and inspections.