There has been an outbreak of Norovirus at Chapman University, as confirmed by the Orange County Health Department this week. There’s been a spread of gastrointestinal illness throughout the entire school, and the virus can be spread through human touch or through food.
Norovirus at Chapman University: Students Should be Extremely Careful
This infection is very contagious, and can be contracted by even touching contaminated surfaces. Students should be gearing up on anti-bacterial sprays and hand sanitizer until the situation is controlled.
A total of 50 students have been reported to have gotten the disease, but so far, only one has tested positive for norovirus. Regardless, the illness is very infectious, so this student will likely be kept tightly under wraps. All students with the illness live off-campus and do not use the university’s dining hall, so the virus likely did not come from there.
Chapman University is on High Alert
Usual symptoms for norovirus include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, muscle aches, dehydration, fatigue, vomiting and nausea. These symptoms usually recede after a few days of rest. Some people do not experience symptoms at all, but they still carry the virus. This is why the community should be extra careful and make sure that facilities and people in them are as clean as possible and do not come in contact with any food or person that they do not trust.
All students have been advised to visit the University’s Student Health Center should they experience any symptoms. There have been no news of a spread of this illness yet, but anyone with the symptoms is discouraged from going to class or attending any activities on campus to prevent a mass spread. There’ve been no news as to where this illness stemmed from, but the university is working to find the source and accommodate students accordingly.
