MANKATO — Health officials are investigating an outbreak that sickened dozens of people at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato last week.

A Minnesota Department of Health spokesman say the outbreak appears to be a norovirus. The virus is spread through contact with fecal matter.

It’s too soon to determine if the illness was spread through food at the civic center.

More than 50 people were sickened after a Greater Mankato Growth event a week ago, attended by more than 460 people. The health department also has received reports of people who contracted the illness after attending a civic center event for veterans last Wednesday.

Norovirus causes vomiting, nausea or diarrhea. The virus is usually not considered serious and most people recover in one or two days.