UP has seen a sudden spike in illness, forcing students and staff to take extra care
Bon Appetit hopes to help stop the spread of germs by temporarily having a worker serve students at some stations, like the salad bar, where students would normally serve themselves. Here, junior Morgan McAllister serves salad to freshman Emily Nitzberg. (Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON)
By Nastacia Voisin, Staff Writer voisin15@up.edu
In one word, sophomore Anndres Olson describes having the norovirus as "exhausting." She recently woke up nauseous and spent the next 24 hours throwing up.
"I wasn't able to keep anything down," Olsen said.
Olson is healthy now, but many other students on campus have come down with norovirus and flu.
UP has seen a sudden spike in sickness. This year's bout is peaking early, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared the current flu season an 'epidemic,' meaning that the current death toll has passed projected levels.
Across campus, students are falling ill, swapping cures and doing what they can to get better or stay healthy.
According to Susan Chisum, assistant director of primary care services at the Health Center, the norovirus is a particular threat on campus.
"We have seen quite a few students coming in here," said Chisum. "In the community at large, there has been an increase of both influenza and the norovirus."
Chisum said college campuses are particularly susceptible to outbreaks of contagious illnesses like the norovirus and influenza.
"Any place where you have a large number of people gathering is a potential source of contamination," Chisum said. "Especially when you get people living in small living spaces like dormitories [and] classrooms, there is an increase of both illnesses."
Still, Chisum is confident that the flu "will it will run its course" as in past years.
The CDC's website says both the norovirus and influenza have overlapping symptoms, but there are differences.
The flu hits quickly with an onset of a fever, followed by headaches, sore throat, a cough, body aches, fatigue and congestion. Influenza spreads mainly through coughing and sneezing, and symptoms last on average from three to seven days.
In contrast, the norovirus typically lasts between 24 and 72 hours and spreads through fecal germs. Symptoms are nausea and vomiting, a low grade fever, chills and body aches.
Some residents of Shipstad Hall have already witnessed how fast the flu can spread. Stephanie Hampel, freshman and Shipstad hall receptionist, has observed this firsthand.
"The flu has definitely become problematic for residents here," said Hampel. "It started with just a few people, but it's been working its way up the floors."
Hampel estimated roughly 20 to 30 students on one floor had come down with either illness recently.
To fortify themselves against infection, some students have taken to drinking extra fluids.
"I've been seeing a ton of students drinking Gatorade, Naked juice, and just downing tea," Hampel said.
After getting sick over the weekend sophomore Justin Roberts has been trying to cure himself by drinking vitamin C - and large amounts of chicken soup.
"I have two thermoses full," Roberts said, holding up a container of soup.
Students aren't the only ones making an effort to stem the spread of these illnesses.
Kelly Labenske, the retail manager for The Cove, along with Bon Appetite General Manager Kirk Mustain, is working to keep eating areas especially clean.
"We've been changing utensils every hour," Labenske said. "It hasn't hit us yet. We're being extra careful."
In the Commons, the salad and taco bars are no longer self-serve, Mustain said. It's a temporary measure to eliminate cross-contamination.
"Rather than 500 hands touching everything, it's reduced down to one," Mustain said.
Mustain is also bleaching countertops every hour to halt further contagion.
Sophomore Carolyn Munro believes that those who are sick should exercise special caution. Having the flu for over a week has made her sensitive to its spread, as well as its miseries.
"You're running a high fever, you're trying to get schoolwork done, you're stressed and overwhelmed," said Munro. "It's awful, and I'm trying to be very aware of what I'm touching."
Here are some concrete steps students can take to avoid getting sick
Wash hands often with warm water and soap
Avoid touching eyes, mouth, or nose to prevent the transmission of germs
Take advantage of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers across campus.
If someone close to you is sick, clean or disinfect shared spaces frequently.
Cover your sneeze and cough
Don't share food or drinks
Eat healthy
Get a good night's rest
Hike up your fluid intake
Flu shots are still advised
