Jon Carey
Equinox Staff
An outbreak of several illnesses linked to the highly contagious disease, Norovirus, has Keene State College communicating with students and faculty to keep clean, hydrated, and contained if infected.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it is a highly contagious illness caused by viral infection called Norovirus. It is often called by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.
Noroviruses spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus is recognized as the leading cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States. Outbreaks can happen to people of all ages and in a variety of settings.
There is no vaccine to prevent Norovirus infection, although this is an area of active research. There is no specific drug to treat people with Norovirus illness, but rehydration is important for those infected. They must drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea.
The CDC states that most people get better within one to two days, and dehydration can be a problem among some people with Norovirus infection, especially at a young or old age. The virus can easily spread to people with other illnesses.
The Center for Health and Wellness has reported no known diagnosed Norovirus case on campus, but other illnesses have surfaced which are linked to the virus.
“We don’t really use the term Norovirus unless you are not getting better within 36 hours and you actually have laboratory testing that it’s in fact the Norovirus causing the illness that you see,” said Nurse Practitioner Karen Coteleso. “You can’t really count so to my knowledge we have no documented cases of ‘Norovirus,’ but we do have cases of viral gastroenteritis which is most probably the Norovirus.”
Coteleso said the most important advice that the Health Center gives to students who show symptoms is to hydrate consistently and prevent others from catching symptoms. “The first thing is of course prevention; we always like to start there, good hand-washing, trying not to share silverware or cups or drinks from friends or colleagues,” Coteleso said. “After that, which is the best prevention that we have is to try and keep clean; keep healthy, get good night sleep and good nutrition.”
Students who have shown symptoms of Norovirus either caught them from a roommate or from interactions between infected surfaces.
“About a month ago I started to show the same symptoms that my roommate did and I was a little worried because he had to go to the hospital because he couldn’t stop vomiting,” KSC senior Vincent Carey said. “I most certainly caught the same bag just from living in the same general area, it’s so easily transmitted from person to person, and people can easily get sick from this.”
Carey’s roommate, Jon Fain, originally caught the virus and said it’s the worst feeling he has ever had from an illness; that he eventually had to receive medical attention.
“At first I thought it was just a stomach bug and I could get over it in a day, but it just kept getting worse and the vomiting never let up,” Fain said. “After the second day I had to go to the hospital because I honestly thought there was something seriously wrong with me, and they diagnosed me with the Norovirus.”
Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. CDC estimates that each year more than 20 million cases of gastroenteritis are caused by Noroviruses. That means about one in every 15 Americans will get Norovirus illness each year. Norovirus is also estimated to cause over 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year in the United States.
“There’s no place for antibiotics in a Norovirus illness or viral gastroenteritis because it’s a virus, not bacteria that can be fixed,” said Coteleso. “It is very contagious, if we got a case of food poisoning or Norovirus on campus it would spread very fast and very quick and it wouldn’t just be an isolated one or two students here.”
Professors who expect students to participate in class attendance say this virus is serious and encourage students to keep contained.
“I do only allow one excused absence; and, I must say that attendance has been very strong so far,” Michael McCarthy said,the professor of the Communication Department and President of Academic Affairs. “I use learning assistants for each class who maintain two weekly tutorials each every week, and, I am on campus and available to my students about every day, my students are well supported and have plenty of opportunities to make up absences and get extra help.”
“It’s a contagious spread that we don’t want to happen because that could shut down residence halls and other buildings,” said Coteleso.
Jon Carey can be contacted at jcarey1@ksc.mailcruiser.com.