Cousins Subs, 667 S. Green Bay Road, temporarily shut down on Friday at about 1 p. m. after city health officials accused it as the source of a suspected norovirus outbreak.

Health officials claim the closure only affects the Cousins Subs on Green Bay Road.

The decision was a consensual one taken by Cousins and the local health department.

In accordance to its director Judy Crouch-Smolarek, the Neenah Health Department have received nearly 25 reports of acute gastroenteritis, revealing that employees from various nearby companies, including Graphic Packaging International and Neenah Paper, were affected.

"We were informed about mid-day (Thursday) of a number of people suffering from GI illnesses", she said. "Due to the number of people who have fallen ill, including some employees, the restaurant has voluntarily closed. The restaurant will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and will re-open when they meet the necessarily requirements of the Neenah Health Department".

Norovirus symptoms normally appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure; however, some can cite symptoms of the illness in as early as 12 hours or even 60 hours after exposure, Crouch-Smolarek revealed.

The illness is reported to pose symptoms as vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and headaches, and they could vary from mild to severe, depending on the person's exposure.

Cousins claim it will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and will soon be back on track as when the requirements are fulfilled.