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Maryland: Fast-Spreading Stomach Flu Sickens College Campus
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_063150903.html
(WJZ) Towson, Md Students at Goucher College in Towson remain wary of a campus-wide outbreak of the stomach flu.
Eyewitness News learns that 10% of Goucher's student body has succumbed to gastroenteritis, a highly contagious group of viruses and bacteria that effect the gastrointestinal tract. Over the past week, infected students have suffered severe symptoms that include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and stomachache. Viral gastroenteritis may last several hours to several days, with the average episode lasting 24-48 hours. In contrast, bacterial or parasitic infections of the virus usually last over ten days.
WJZ's Sharon Lee visited the campus Saturday and spoke to several students who had recovered from the virulent illness.
"Extreme fatigue, people were having bad headaches," says freshman Sam Barton, describing the symptoms. "Everyone's stomach was really upset."
Goucher's vice president and dean of students, Gail Neverdon Edmonds, addressed the disease in an email that she sent to students and staff. In the email, Edmonds informed students that aid kits, which include ginger ale and saltines, were available at the Student Health and Counseling Center on campus.
Kristen Keener, the campus media relations director, tells WJZ's Lee the disease is tapering off this weekend, noting that the Baltimore County Health Department has helped the campus monitor the outbreak.
"I think the school is doing a good job trying to contain the virus," says junior Emily Herron.
School administrators say they do not know how the outbreak started. Only a few campus events were cancelled week and classes remained scheduled.
(WJZ) Towson, Md Students at Goucher College in Towson remain wary of a campus-wide outbreak of the stomach flu.
Eyewitness News learns that 10% of Goucher's student body has succumbed to gastroenteritis, a highly contagious group of viruses and bacteria that effect the gastrointestinal tract. Over the past week, infected students have suffered severe symptoms that include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and stomachache. Viral gastroenteritis may last several hours to several days, with the average episode lasting 24-48 hours. In contrast, bacterial or parasitic infections of the virus usually last over ten days.
WJZ's Sharon Lee visited the campus Saturday and spoke to several students who had recovered from the virulent illness.
"Extreme fatigue, people were having bad headaches," says freshman Sam Barton, describing the symptoms. "Everyone's stomach was really upset."
Goucher's vice president and dean of students, Gail Neverdon Edmonds, addressed the disease in an email that she sent to students and staff. In the email, Edmonds informed students that aid kits, which include ginger ale and saltines, were available at the Student Health and Counseling Center on campus.
Kristen Keener, the campus media relations director, tells WJZ's Lee the disease is tapering off this weekend, noting that the Baltimore County Health Department has helped the campus monitor the outbreak.
"I think the school is doing a good job trying to contain the virus," says junior Emily Herron.
School administrators say they do not know how the outbreak started. Only a few campus events were cancelled week and classes remained scheduled.