Stomach Flu Breaks Out on Campus

Yearly bout of illness hits Santa Clara, severe cases require hospitalization Vishaka JoshiTHE SANTA CLARANovember 14, 2013[dropcap]W[/dropcap]idespread sickness has developed on the Mission Campus in recent weeks.Cowell Student Health Center saw approximately 35 cases of the stomach flu from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8., while Campus Safety Services reported that several of those infected had to be hospitalized.Three of five students who required medical assistance cited food poisoning as the reason for illness. However, Cowell later determined that the students’ symptoms were caused by the stomach flu.According to Peggie Robinson, clinic manager and registered nurse at Cowell, it “is very difficult to identify cases as directly the result of ‘food poisoning’” because the symptoms of stomach flu and food poisoning are very similar. Confirmation of food poisoning requires thorough investigation.The flu strain that is currently spreading around Santa Clara, the norovirus, is the same one that recently hit Stanford University, where more than 50 students were affected. This particular virus spreads very easily, and so Cowell emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sanitary environment, especially when in close quarters with other individuals. Cowell first sent out an email on Nov. 1 about the stomach flu. Santa Clara usually sees an episode much like this on a yearly basis, and according to Robinson, the severity as well as the number of cases during this year’s outbreak have been about the same as in previous years.Though the actual bug is short-lived, lasting about 24 hours, complications can arise if not addressed. Dehydration is the most severe problem and can be a reason for hospitalization.This was the case for freshman Megan Pearson, who was one of the first to catch the virus on Oct. 6.“My friend had been ill and I’d been exposed to it,” said Pearson. “I thought I wasn’t going to get it because it had been a couple days, but I started feeling sick.”Pearson was transported to O’Connor Hospital by ambulance at around 1 a.m. due to fever and dehydration and was discharged four hours later. It took another week for Pearson to make a full recovery.The norovirus does not respond to antibiotics, so patients are prescribed anti-nausea medication and given dietary instructions to cope with the symptoms. Cowell also administers intravenous fluids to select patients.When dealing with outbreaks, Cowell first evaluates and assists patients in managing their  symptoms. After basic patient care, Cowell informs related departments on campus, such as dining services, housing and facilities. Next, Cowell notifies the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to see if further investigation is suggested.According to the County Health Officer and physician Sara Cody, outbreaks often occur between November and March, the typical flu season. They are prevalent  where people are living in close proximity to each other, such as childcare centers and schools. The Santa Clara and Stanford outbreaks have been the first and largest of the year. Last year, the department saw around 20 outbreaks from October to March.“Every day, we were getting an outbreak report,” said Cody. “There’s a lot of noise in the data. What’s reported is a subset of what’s actually happening.”Symptoms of the virus appear 24 to 48 hours after being exposed and include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps, headache and fever. The virus is passed in the stool and vomit of those infected. It can be spread by both person-to-person contact and the eating or drinking of contaminated food or water.Though the virus spreads easily and quickly, students can take preventative measures to avoid the stomach flu such as washing hands frequently, especially before preparing or eating food. Keeping shared areas sanitary should also be a priority.Those experiencing symptoms should make an effort to stay away from others until the symptoms subside to prevent the spread of the virus. Those experiencing more moderate or severe symptoms should seek medical treatment. Contact Vishakha Joshi at  vsjoshi@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.