Norovirus outbreak, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park, NJ

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: EP-20070305-10199-USA
Date / time: 05/03/2007 14:17:41
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of New Jersey
City: Florham Park
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Park campus was recovering Monday from a norovirus outbreak that sickened more than 100 students last week, school officials said. The 24-hour virus hit campus Wednesday, with students falling sick Thursday and Friday, university spokesman Art Petro said.

A dozen students were treated at area hospitals for dehydration, then released.

Six faculty and staff members also were sickened, Petro said. The virus is spread person-to-person and virus causes flu-like systems including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Cleaning crews were sent into dormitory bath rooms and dining halls, and the recreation center and pool were shut down for 24 hours for cleaning.

The campus has about 2,200 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=10199

[MADem]

1. Cue portentious music...

Movie Trailer Announcer Guy: NOROVIRUS....it's NOT just for the LOVE BOAT ANY MORE!!!!!

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. My tinfoil is a little too tight -

but every time I hear about something like this I can't help but think of the CIA experiments on spreading viruses in US cities in the 60s.

First there is a rash of 'outbreaks' on cruise liners - a perfect microcosm for an experiment on transmissibility because it is literally a self-contrained community.

Then, the next step, several outbreaks in less controlled environments, as in the article. We had an outbreak here in Raleigh a few weeks ago, but heard next to nothing about it on the news - it was all stories from teachers whose classes were emptied and co-workers who were all calling in sick over a two week period. Eveyone I know knew somebody who was hit by it.

What's next? V for Vendetta?