The Wake County Public Health Department is currently investigating a staggering 241 complaints of patrons falling ill after dining at a sushi restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina. The investigation comes after a groom filed a lawsuit against Sushi Nine restaurant, claiming that he and his family became sick before his wedding.

According to a news release from the health department, three cases of norovirus have been linked to the Sushi Nine restaurant. Norovirus, also known as the "stomach flu" or "stomach bug," is an extremely contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

In the lawsuit filed by Austin Freels on Friday, he stated that he and his family dined at the restaurant on November 29 and fell ill the following day. Freels described experiencing a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, severe abdominal pain, and dehydration. His symptoms worsened and persisted throughout his wedding weekend, requiring him to seek medical attention at urgent care and the emergency room. The lawsuit did not confirm whether Freels had a confirmed case of norovirus.

The first reported case to the health department stated that they became ill after dining at the restaurant on December 1, prompting further investigation, as mentioned in the public health officials' news release. Since then, a total of 241 complaints have been received from individuals who visited Sushi Nine between November 28 and December 5.

Among those who reported falling ill, 170 individuals were interviewed and requested to provide stool samples, which is the only way to test for the presence of the norovirus. However, only three people have submitted samples, and all of them came back positive for the virus, as stated in the news release.

Sushi Nine voluntarily closed its doors on December 5 for thorough cleaning and has since reopened. Notably, no new complaints have been reported since its reopening on December 8, suggesting that the restaurant's sanitation measures may have been successful in mitigating the outbreak.

The health department is actively investigating all potential sources of exposure but has yet to identify a specific food item that may have caused the outbreak. As noted in the news release, individuals who fell ill consumed various items from the menu, making it difficult to pinpoint a single source.

The county health officials are urging anyone who dined at Sushi Nine between the mentioned dates and experienced symptoms consistent with norovirus to report their cases. The investigation continues in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the community and prevent any further spread of the virus. CNN has reached out to the restaurant for comment, but no response has been received at the time of writing.

As the investigation unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of strict sanitation practices in food establishments and the need for vigilant monitoring to protect public health.