Collegiate Times

In this season of colds and the flu, another virus has found its way onto the Virginia Tech campus. Norovirus -- a virus similar to the stomach flu -- causes diarrhea and vomiting the lasts for one to three days. Once infected, the person is able to transmit the virus for up to two weeks. According to Schiffert Health Center, there have been 40 cases of the norovirus this semester alone, but the school is far from an epidemic or the cancellation of classes.

"That's really not a lot of people if you think about the population of Tech," said registered nurse and Schiffert employee Colleen Farmer.

In addition to Tech's 40, the Montgomery County Health Department noted 20 cases through the Montgomery Regional Hospital.

The virus is spread easily through human contact and surfaces such as doorknobs and keyboards. Symptoms of both diarrhea and vomiting can begin just 10 hours after catching the virus. It can run rampant on college campuses thanks to the close quarters provided by residence halls and dining centers.

"With condensed populations ... one person coming from another college can sit in on a class of 70 or 80 students, and if 1 percent get it and spread it to other classes, it's a trickle-down effect," Farmer said.

40 students is less than 1 percent of the student body at Tech, and Farmer does not see the number reaching anything near an epidemic.

"We saw maybe seven cases on Monday, and less and less (as the week progressed), maybe one on Thursday," Farmer said.

Although the rate of cases has slowed, Farmer stressed the importance of prevention in regards to the virus.

"It's really not extra work, as far as hand washing and routine daily cleaning with Lysol. It's really day-to-day cleaning," she said.

Montgomery County Heath Department spokesman Robert Parker agreed.

"The advice doesn't change if there's 10 cases or 50 cases, or in this case 60 cases," Parker said. "That doesn't change the nature of the risks."

Norovirus hit some schools full-force. Hope College in Holland, Mich., had to cancel classes for two and a half days after 420 of its 3,200 students were struck with norovirus.

"It started on Thursday with a few cases," said Hope College spokesman Tom Renner. "We realized we had a growing problem on Friday. The campus was closed Friday midday -- at that point we had 180 cases."

After closing, the college asked students to maintain a good level personal hygiene as well as keep a close eye on the cleanliness of their living spaces.

However, by Monday the number had doubled; classes were canceled for Monday and Tuesday in response. In addition, dining halls started using only take-home containers and silverware. Hope College increased the housekeeping in the residence halls and provided cleaning supplies for students to disinfect their rooms.

"It'll be significant (financially) for the college when it's all said and done," Renner said.

Farmer has no specifics on any magic number of cases needed for Tech to cancel classes. If a huge number of cases came through Schiffert, then the university would evaluate the situation, she said.

Farmer explained that norovirus is extremely similar to the flu, and that Tech has successfully avoided a flu problem before. In March 2008, Schiffert treated 300 students with the flu in one day and avoided a potential influenza epidemic.

"They're not going to get their classes canceled," Farmer said.

If a student has diarrhea or vomits at least twice in one day, he should to go to Schiffert for treatment. While the virus must run its course, treatment regimen includes over-the-counter pain relief and anti-nausea medication as well as drinking plenty of water.