norovirusAccording to a story in the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, more than 30 attendees at a Hernando County Commissioners meeting became ill with food poisoning, suspected Norovirus, after a meeting on January 19. 

The stricken included at least 10 county department heads, two county commissioners, a Planning and Zoning commissioner, several county employees, a handful of spectators and Rusty, the 5-year-old black Labrador and beloved companion of Commission Chairman Jeff Stabins, who thoughtfully brought his pet some leftovers.

"I think they want to get rid of me," said Angelo Oliva, a frequent complainant at County Commission meetings. Oliva, 79, said Thursday that he hadn’t been able to eat solid food for days.

Stabins – along with Rusty – has fully recovered.