Spring Break
Norovirus continues to affect students
An estimated 300 have been diagnosed thus far
Stephen Vitabile
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: News
The gastrointestinal norovirus, or "norwalk-like virus," outbreak that recently spread throughout campus over the past two weeks is still affecting members of the student body.
The norovirus, which is characterized by flu-like symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and low-grade fever, usually affects those who have it for one to two days and is highly contagious.
The Student Health Center has been steadily seeing patients after the first wave of 25 patients on Jan. 23, according to Dr. Mary McGonigle, director of the Student Health Center. By Jan. 25, over 100 students had been diagnosed with the virus. Of those students, 15 were sent to the hospital needing IVs for dehydration.
At that time, the health center got in touch with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Knowing that the virus could be easily spread, the Department of Health interviewed the first few patients to be diagnosed in an attempt to track the source of the virus.
No common thread was found among students. Notably, the question of the virus coming from food was ruled out because all the patients had eaten in different eateries. This was vital to determining that it was in fact the norovirus, because it was initially thought to be food poisoning, McGonigle said.
McGonigle estimates that about 300 students have been diagnosed with the norovirus by either calling in with tell-tale symptoms or visiting the health center.
"The norovirus is seen on campus every winter," McGonigle said. "It is seen a lot in schools and colleges because it is transferred by contact. We didn't approximate anything unusual when we first saw [the virus]. It happens about every year."
In fact, the virus is colloquially referred to as the "cruise-ship virus" because it is easily spread in places with close, community-like living, like a cruise ship or residence hall.After the initial outbreak between Jan. 23-25, the number of calls and office visits to the health center involving the virus tapered off, McGonigle said. However, the health center saw another 100 patients with the virus from Jan. 28-29.
The norovirus, which is characterized by flu-like symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and low-grade fever, usually affects those who have it for one to two days and is highly contagious.
The Student Health Center has been steadily seeing patients after the first wave of 25 patients on Jan. 23, according to Dr. Mary McGonigle, director of the Student Health Center. By Jan. 25, over 100 students had been diagnosed with the virus. Of those students, 15 were sent to the hospital needing IVs for dehydration.
At that time, the health center got in touch with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Knowing that the virus could be easily spread, the Department of Health interviewed the first few patients to be diagnosed in an attempt to track the source of the virus.
No common thread was found among students. Notably, the question of the virus coming from food was ruled out because all the patients had eaten in different eateries. This was vital to determining that it was in fact the norovirus, because it was initially thought to be food poisoning, McGonigle said.
McGonigle estimates that about 300 students have been diagnosed with the norovirus by either calling in with tell-tale symptoms or visiting the health center.
"The norovirus is seen on campus every winter," McGonigle said. "It is seen a lot in schools and colleges because it is transferred by contact. We didn't approximate anything unusual when we first saw [the virus]. It happens about every year."
In fact, the virus is colloquially referred to as the "cruise-ship virus" because it is easily spread in places with close, community-like living, like a cruise ship or residence hall.After the initial outbreak between Jan. 23-25, the number of calls and office visits to the health center involving the virus tapered off, McGonigle said. However, the health center saw another 100 patients with the virus from Jan. 28-29.
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