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UPDATE: 100 Students Report Sickness At Ursinus College

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (CBS) -- The number of students at Ursinus College sickened by some sort of stomach bug now stands at 100.

Ursinus College says it has been working closely with Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) officials to investigate an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on campus. Officials say the college has voluntarily closed the cafeteria and snack bar allowing MCHD officials to continue gathering information regarding the illness cluster. The request is prudent and precautionary until further information is gathered, according to officials.

No official cause has been determined, but health officials say symptoms are similar to those of the highly-contagious Norovirus.

Some students have been treated at area hospitals, with a handful suffering from dehydration, most getting medication to treat vomiting and diarrhea.

Dr. Paul Doghramji with Ursinus College Health Services says it appears to be what he calls a self-limited infection that runs its course in about 18-24 hours, so while it's awful for anyone getting hit with this, it should pass.

"What makes this more concerning and newsworthy is that so many have been afflicted so quickly."

He says they have not pinned down the cause, but he says one apparent common thread is that every sickened student appears to have eaten at the on-campus dining hall. But he adds they haven't pinpointed if this is food-borne or person to person, or even person to food to person.

While there's no official cause, the county health department says symptoms are similar to Norovirus. They are testing, but those results could take days or even a couple weeks.

As of Tuesday afternoon, officials say Ursinus College was aware of 100 students who became ill, 22 of whom sought treatment at local hospitals and urgent care centers.

"I encourage any students or staff experiencing symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain to be particularly careful about dehydration and to seek medical care," said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Interim Medical Director of the Montgomery County Health Department.

It is unknown at this time whether the illness is food-borne or transmitted by person-to-person contact.

MCHD is interviewing students and employees and looking at all possible sources of infection and looking for any commonalities, according to officials.

Officials say Ursinus College is working closely with MCHD to determine the cause of the illness. College students or staff who experiences symptoms can contact the Ursinus College Wellness Center (wellness@ursinus.edu ) or come in during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UC EMS will be available 24/7 for assistance; contact Campus Safety at 610-409-3333.

"The best way to prevent the spread GI illness is to practice good hand-hygiene and to thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces in common areas," said Dr. Arkoosh.

 

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