Campus sees gastroenteritis spike

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) sent an e-mail yesterday informing members of the University community of the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis, often called the stomach flu. Three students and one University employee whose job does not involve food preparation are confirmed to have salmonella.

University physician Peter Johnsen said the office decided to send an e-mail to students because of “an increased number of people coming in [to McCosh Health Center] with gastroenteritis symptoms” since last Wednesday. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Nearly 60 people have gone to McCosh with symptoms that could be related to gastroenteritis, University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt ‘96 said. EHS is trying to find the possible causes of gastroenteritis on campus, she said, by collecting stool samples from affected people and “reviewing the cultures of those who have shown symptoms.”

There is sometimes an increase in the number of people who present symptoms of gastroenteritis, Johnsen said.

“Usually when there is a higher number [of cases], we try to see if an eating venue [can be blamed],” Johnsen said. University sanitarian Donald Robasser has been looking into whether there is a specific source of infection, he said.

The University has found few similarities between what the four people infected with salmonella ate prior to falling ill. Those infected are “filling out food case histories so they can present information to the best of their knowledges” in hopes of finding a common link between those infected with salmonella, Cliatt said. No one dining hall, eating club or dorm has been identified as a commonality.

The remaining people who have gone to McCosh with symptoms of gastroenteritis have different symptoms than the four diagnosed with salmonella. “People who had positive cultures didn’t have exactly the same symptoms as most [others who came to McCosh],” Johnsen said. Some of those infected with salmonella were experiencing bloody diarrhea, which was not not seen in most of those who have reported flu-like symptoms to McCosh.

Johnsen did not rule out the possibility that the source of the illnesses might be non-bacterial. “Some may be viral infections; we don’t have the full story yet,” he said.

The e-mail sent by EHS encouraged members of the University community to regularly wash their hands and to avoid sharing food, eating utensils and towels to protect against gastroenteritis.