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Mexican street-food chain Wahaca, founded by 2005 MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers, has temporarily closed five of its London outlets following a suspected norovirus outbreak.

Government watchdog Public Health England is investigating after more than 200 workers and 160 customers fell ill with vomiting bug symptoms after dining at the restaurants in the past week.

Five restaurants in the capital are among nine of its 25 outlets across the UK that remain closed today, including the brand’s flagship Covent Garden diner.

Restaurants in Oxford Circus, Soho, Canary Wharf and Westfield Shepherd’s Bush, are also shut due to what are described as: “unforeseen circumstances”.

One customer who fell ill after visiting the Canary Wharf branch said: “It was horrendous. I felt terrible. It took three days for me to recover.”

Another diner, who visited Wahaca in Soho on Saturday night with her husband, told the Sun they became so sick they were unable to look after their baby.

She said they suffered “horrific” diarrhoea and vomiting throughout the night and added: “We couldn’t even get out of bed to attend to our 13-month-old daughter, so had to call our parents to come and collect her to look after her.

“We both had to take two days off work – and our friend, who owns his own dentist practice, had to cancel all of his patients.”

Customers trying to book tables at the affected branches on the company’s website are told: “We’re really sorry but due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to close today.”

The group’s other London outlets in Brixton, Fitzrovia, Islington, Kentish Town, Liverpool Street, Southbank, St Paul’s, Stratford, Waterloo and Wimbledon are open as usual.

The stomach bug causes diarrhoea and vomiting and usually lasts a few days.

Deborah Turbitt, London deputy director for health protection for Public Health England, said: “We’re working closely with environmental health officers and the restaurant chain to investigate.

“Currently, the source of the outbreak is not confirmed and this remains under investigation.

“Norovirus can be very unpleasant but is rarely serious.”

A Wahaca spokeswoman said: “We can confirm a number of our employees and customers have reported becoming ill over the past week.

“Initial tests suggest that the cause of this illness was Norovirus. Following these reports, Wahaca voluntarily closed nine sites.

“After specialist deep cleaning of all sites, whether affected or not, and with the co-operation of relevant authorities we have reopened five of those sites and continue to monitor the issue closely in order to ensure it is contained and resolved.

“As ever our main priority is to ensure that all of our customers and our valued team members are safe and healthy.”