By CASEY NEILL
SANDOWN Greyhound Racing Track’s function centre was last week in lockdown following a gastroenteritis outbreak.
More than 130 people fell ill following a Wantirna Secondary College valedictory dinner at the Springvale venue on Wednesday 19 November and another function on Friday 21 November.
Department of Health spokesman Graeme Walker said the department had been working with the City of Greater Dandenong to determine the cause and clean up.
“The indication is it’s not contaminated food. The food wasn’t bad,” Mr Walker said.
“The more likelihood is that after the food was prepared the handling and hygiene practices may have caused the goods to become contaminated, or alternatively it could have been hygiene problems in somewhere like the bathroom.
“The bug could have been spread by hand to surface contact.”
He said the venue closed for a full commercial clean on Friday 21 November, under council supervision.
“It was open again on Friday night and when further cases of illness came to light arising from patrons on Friday, then the view was taken that perhaps something had slipped through in the process,” Mr Walker said.
“The council officers went back there and a further, more extensive commercial clean and disinfectant was done under the supervision of the council.
“Once the council officers and our department are satisfied that the cleaning has been done appropriately then the venue will be in a position to open its doors again.”
He said food premises were required to have a food handling and safety plan that included staff education and training.
“If there have been issues which may come to light from the investigation here I’m sure there will be a review of their food plan and a move to address anything that could be improved,” he said.
“There may or may not be any penalties.”
The track’s CEO Greg Miller said it was important to note that the bug affected both diners and non-diners.
“We are awaiting further test results and until we can reasonably understand the origins of the virus our grandstand remains closed,” he said.
Mr Miller said several functions scheduled during the lockdown were moved to alternative locations or dates.
“It’s just being safe. We just don’t know the answers yet,” he said.
“It’s a virus that comes in and it spreads quickly.”
