Posts Tagged ‘Dine Flu’

UPDATE: Don't Be Alarmed, It Was Only A Norovirus

A day late and a dollar short, but here’s the latest e-mail sent to student, staff, and faculty.

I’ve heard that there is a proposal to POTENTIALLY reimburse students PARTIALLY for missed meals, via declining balance points.  But haven’t heard anything official, so don’t expect anything.  If I do hear anything OFFICIALLY, I will let you all know.

To the Marietta College community:

In the interest of keeping the campus community up to date on the recent outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus has informed the Marietta City Health Department and the College that all of the samples forwarded for testing were found positive for Norovirus, which is a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu” or gastroenteritis in people. In addition, independent tests conducted on food samples from the College’s Dining Services returned negative results for bacteria.

As a result, the Marietta City Health Department has determined that based upon these test results and extensive interviews that anyone who had similar symptoms with a similar onset most likely contracted Norovirus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the symptoms of Norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.

The CDC says people become infected with Noroviruses in several ways, including:

• eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus (it would first be infected by a person with norovirus);
• touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hands in their mouth;
• having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms.

The preventative measures taken by Marietta College and Dining Services are the proper steps in the case of a Norovirus outbreak. In particular, the preventative steps taken by the College Physical Plant to disinfect high traffic areas is also an accepted method to help reduce the spread of a Norovirus. The Physical Plant staff began using a “hospital grade” disinfecting product on Saturday, Jan. 23, that is certified to kill the Norovirus and is safe to use in non-food service areas. Physical Plant staff will continue using this product for 30 days on high contact surfaces in restroom areas.

Marietta College’s Dining Services did reopen all satellite operations—Izzy’s, Chlapaty Café and Gilman Express—on Monday, Jan. 25. Gilman Dining Hall returned to its normal hours of operations as well.

The decision to reopen was made jointly by Marietta College, the Marietta City Health Department and Dining Services. As an additional safety measure, Dining Services will extend preventative protocols in place at Gilman Dining Hall this past week to its campus locations. For example, there will not be self-service coffee or muffins at Chlapaty.

All signs point toward a decline in campus illnesses, but the City Health Department and Marietta Memorial Hospital remind us of the very real potential for a second wave. Therefore, College officials want to encourage all students to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of any illness transmitted from person-to-person. The information contained in the Fact Sheet on the spread of bacteria distributed to students and employees remains a reliable guide to measures each of us can take to help ensure our own health. We would also call attention to the additional signs on campus reminding everyone to wash your hands.

If you are presenting any symptoms, please contact your Resident Director, or report to the Office of Student Life or the Campus Health Center. If you need emergency assistance we encourage you to go to Marietta Memorial Hospital.

We will update the campus community when additional information is available.’

~ Tom Perry, Director of College Relations

CONTINUING: President's Response to Illness

Here is the text from the President’s e-mail to students, staff, and faculty regarding the illness.  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Dear Marietta College Students, Faculty and Staff,

I know that you have been receiving information about the outbreak of
gastrointestinal illness on campus for several days, and that some of
you are very concerned about this.  I am writing to say that I
understand and share your concern, and know from personal experience
over the weekend how those of you who have been sick felt.  I hope all
of you are feeling better, and that the campus will be free of this
sickness very soon.

My purpose in writing is to assure you that the College is working
closely with the City Health Department to identify the causes of the
outbreak and to stop the spread of this illness, and to remind you that
there are a few important things you can do to help yourself.
The City Health Department does not yet know what has caused this, and
they tell us that it is very possible that there is more than one
source.  Along with food or water borne bacteria, viruses are also a
common cause of these outbreaks.  I want to urge you to do the simple
things—wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizers any time you can,
avoid putting your hands in your mouth–which can help prevent the
spread of disease whatever its source.

You have received information about the spread of bacteria through fecal
oral contact. Some of you may have heard of the “cruise ship virus”
which sometimes results in numerous illnesses on ships.  I have been on
cruises where this has occurred, and I can tell you that the precautions
we are taking around campus, including eliminating self service in the
dining hall, wiping down surfaces more often, and encouraging frequent
hand washing and use of hand sanitizers were implemented immediately,
and that they did help.   Whatever the source of the original cases, our
diligence now can contribute greatly to our own health and that of our
peers.

If you have been ill, I urge you to call the City Health Department for
an interview that takes only a few minutes.  That can be very helpful as
they try to help us identify the cause of the problem. And, of course,
if you become ill, please do not hesitate to seek help from Campus
Health Services, your RA or RD, or to go to the Emergency Room.

I know this is a difficult situation, and I hope, as I know you do, that
it will end very soon.  In the meantime, I assure you that the College
is working hard to keep you safe and urge you to join in that effort by
taking a little extra time to take care of yourself and your colleagues.
These are not perfect solutions, but they can and will help.    Best
wishes for a successful and healthy semester.

~ Jean Scott, President of Marietta College

CONTINUING: WTAP Begins Coverage

Check here for coverage from WTAP.  They were on campus yesterday to shoot some video and dig into the story.  We’re still waiting to hear more details.

Please contact (740) 373-0611 to speak with someone at the Marietta Health Department if you have been sick at some point this weekend. Dial extension 104, 108 or 109 to reach a contact.

ILLNESS UPDATE: Contact Health Department If You Were Affected

The College sent out another press release today informing students of a number to call and extensions to reach to help the Health Department determine the cause of the campus-wide illness.

While official reports state 36 students were treated at the hospital, observation from the WotM news center pegs the number of affected students much higher.

Please contact (740) 373-0611 to speak with someone at the Marietta Health Department. Dial extension 104, 108 or 109 to reach a contact.

Here’s the press release from Tom Perry.

To the Marietta College community:

In an effort to help pinpoint the origins of the ongoing illness on campus, the Marietta City Health Department has asked that we encourage any students or employees who have experienced gastrointestinal illness since Thursday, Jan. 14 to please contact them at (740) 373-0611. Please dial extension 104, 108 or 109 to reach someone.

Every opportunity the City Health Department has to interview anyone who has been ill increases their ability to find a cause for the increase of illnesses on campus.

Please be assured that your medical information is held in the strictest confidence according to HIPAA protocol.

As we shared with you in yesterday’s correspondence, some early test results conducted by the Marietta City Health Department are positive for a bacterium that could be transmitted by food or water. However, a majority of the tests were negative. Therefore, all test samples are being forwarded to the state health department for further testing to determine if it is bacterial or viral.

College officials want to encourage all students to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of any illness transmitted from person-to-person. The City Health Department has provided us with and we will be sharing a Fact Sheet on the spread of bacteria with all students and employees today.

Fecal contamination on hands is one way a bacterium spreads, so the guidelines we put out about preventing H1N1 would apply here as they do to so many illnesses. Washing hands often and keeping your hands away from your mouth are the best things you can do to stay well.

The staff at Gilman are continuing to disinfect the dining area, and Physical Plant staff are disinfecting highly frequented common areas to help reduce the spread of illness.

The College continues to cooperate with the City Health Department and Marietta Memorial to help pinpoint the origins of the illness.

As a precautionary measure, Izzy’s, Chlapaty Café and Gilman Express will remain closed indefinitely. Gilman Dining Hall will expand its hours throughout the week to include full meals instead of continental hours until the satellite operations are re-opened. Hours of operation are as follows:

Breakfast: 7-11 a.m., Monday-Friday
Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday
Dinner: 3-8 p.m., Monday-Friday

In an effort to reduce the spread of illness, Dining Services will hand all food to students at Gilman, and eliminate any self-service stations.

If you are presenting any symptoms, please contact your Resident Director, or report to the Office of Student Life or the Campus Health Center. If you need emergency assistance we encourage you to go to Marietta Memorial Hospital.

We will update the campus community when additional information is available.

~ Tom Perry, Director of College Relations

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Gastrointestinal Illness Sends 36 to Hospital

According to an e-mail sent to students last night, around 36 students have been treated at Marietta Memorial Hospital for gastrointestinal illness.  However, the total number of those affected is not known, since not all cases are bad enough to send people to the hospital.

Early test results show that the illness is being caused by a bacterium in food or water.

Dr. Rita Kipp left this comment on a previous article, wanting to confirm to students what the definition of food poisoning is.

I am concerned that students understand what “food poisoning” is. Even a Google search will show that the term is an umbrella for a variety of pathogens and GI problems. The most frequent kind of food poisoning is Norwalk-like viruses or Noroviruses. Check out Wikipedia on this term. Once a norovirus or a bacterium is in a community, especially a contained group such as a cruise ship, it spreads person to person, not just directly from food. Noroviruses are pretty contagious. We will know more once we get the lab results whether this is a norovirus. It could well be something else.

Fecal contamination on hands (I hate to bring up a gross subject, but there it is) is one way a Norovirus spreads, so the guidelines we put out about preventing H1N1 would apply here as they do to so many illnesses. Mom was right. Washing hands often and keeping your hands away from your mouth are the best things you can do to stay well. I hope that students understand that this is not just about the food going into their mouths, because watching what you eat is not going to be enough to keep people well if this is a contagious virus or bacterium.

~ Dr. Rita Kipp, Provost and Dean of the College

For now, students should continue to wash hands and follow H1N1 health guidelines, as they are just as effective against the bacterium we’re facing.

If you don’t already have one, consider making a sick kit, with the following supplies.

• Gatorade or other sports drink (suggestion of 6 bottles)
• Chicken Noodle Soup (suggestion of 2 or 3 microwaveable bowls)
• Bottled Water (24 pack)
• Saltine Crackers (1 Box)
• Disinfectant spray
• Disinfectant wipes

After personally dealing with the bacterium, I can say that buying some ginger ale and pro-biotic yogurt will also help in the long run.

Here is the last news release from the College.

To the Marietta College community:

This evening, College officials were notified that some early test results conducted by the Marietta City Health Department are positive for a bacterium that could be caused by food or water. As of today, approximately three dozen Marietta students have been treated for gastrointestinal illness at Marietta Memorial Hospital since Thursday.

The College will continue to cooperate with the City Health Department and Marietta Memorial to help pinpoint the origins of the illness. The test samples will be forwarded to the state health department on Monday for further testing.

As a precautionary measure, Izzy’s, Chlapaty Café and Gilman Express will remain closed indefinitely. Gilman Dining Hall will continue normal hours throughout the week. Hours of operation are as follows:

Breakfast: 7-10 a.m., Monday-Friday
Continental Breakfast: 10-11 a.m., Monday-Friday
Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday
Continental Lunch: 2-3 p.m., Monday-Friday
Continental Dinner: 3-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday
Dinner: 5-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday
Dinner: 5-7 p.m., Friday

In an effort to reduce the spread of illness, Dining Services will hand all food to students at Gilman, and eliminate any self-service stations.
College officials want to encourage all students to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of any illness transmitted from person-to-person. The staff at Gilman are continuing to disinfect the dining area, and Physical Plant staff are disinfecting highly frequented common areas to help reduce the spread of illness.

If you are presenting any symptoms, please contact your Resident Director, or report to the Office of Student Life or the Campus Health Center. If you need emergency assistance we encourage you to go to Marietta Memorial Hospital.

We will update the campus community when additional information is available.

~ Tom Perry, Director of College Relations

"Dine Flu" Sickens More Students, Closes Chlapaty, Izzy's

The “Dine Flu” as Writing on the Mall has decided to call it (Thanks Chuck!) has closed Izzy’s and Chlapaty Cafe.

Sweeping health and safety changes were also made to Gilman today, as silverware was replaced with pre-wrapped packages of plastic forks, knives, and spoons.  All self-serve food locations were closed, and now require a Dining Services employee to serve you food.  Soda fountains have been shut off.  All drinks must be requested from behind the counter, except for milk.  Cereal is served in sealed containers directly from the manufacturer.  They have even gone as far as wrapping all fruit in saran wrap, along with desert items.

The College’s second e-mail was sent out today to alert students to the closings, and the continued investigation by the city and county health authorities into what caused the sickness.  Affected students have been suffering from symptoms similar to stomach flu, but has only been referred to as “gastrointestinal illness” in all reports.

The e-mail, sent around Noon today, was received too late for some student to change their plans and eat before Gilman closed for brunch today.  A student, who asked not to be named, asked, “So what are the people who are crunched for time going to do now that Izzy’s and the Clap are closed.  I would stop [at the Chlapaty Cafe] for breakfast, then Izzy’s for lunch.  Both times between classes.  Not sure what I’m going to do now.”

One point that has been raised is whether students should be compensated for the loss of meals due to the illness outbreak.  Should students receive credits on their account for eating off-campus to avoid potential illness?  Let us know your thoughts by commenting after the article.

Here’s the Second Press Release from Marietta College

To the Marietta College community:

In response to a small number of additional occurrences of gastrointestinal illness on Friday, Marietta College officials have decided to indefinitely close Izzy’s and the Chlapaty Café as a precautionary measure.

Gilman Dining Hall will continue normal hours on Saturday, Jan. 16, and Sunday, Jan. 17. Brunch is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner is from 5-6:30 p.m. each day. In seeking to reduce the spread of illness, Dining Services will hand all food to students at Gilman, and eliminate any self-service stations.

In cooperation with both city and county health organizations, Marietta College is currently investigating the cause of the limited campus occurrence of gastrointestinal illness over the past two days. The College is working with Marietta Memorial Hospital and the Washington County Health Department to help pinpoint the origins of the illness.

College officials want to encourage all students to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of any illness transmitted from person-to-person.

If you are presenting any symptoms, please contact your Resident Director.

We will update the campus community when additional information is available.

~ Tom Perry, Director of College Relations