The 2007-2008 school year seems to be the year of outbreaks as the norovirus becomes the second illness (the staph infection of the fall semester being the first) to plague the Monmouth College campus. Students and faculty alike have suffered the wrath of the virus and can all agree that it is not a pleasant one to undertake.

Although the outbreak was county-wide, 30-35 students and faculty members of Monmouth College have reported having symptoms of what is known as the norovirus. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body ache, tiredness, a low-grade fever and, in a few cases, vomiting blood. The symptoms that students and faculty suffered from were said to last from five hours up to 24 hours, and it has been noted that there are no available medications for the virus. The infected were told to drink plenty of fluids, and the uninfected, the lucky ones, were told that the best way method of prevention was regular hand washing with soap.

In 2002, the norovirus swept through campus with similar results for students and faculty. The number of reported sick was actually higher in ‘02, but the symptoms and misery was the same for those that contracted it.

According to the Warren County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Health, the norovirus is said to be very contagious and can be transmitted through food or by direct contact. Individuals can be contagious for up to two weeks after contracting the virus, and symptoms can last up to 36 hours. Dehydration is the biggest danger, and it is especially important for the young and the elderly to remain as hydrated as possible.

Director of communication across the curriculum Steve Price, who caught the virus, says, “I’ve worked through illnesses before, but this is the first time in my 15 years of teaching that I had to have someone cover my class due to illness. A couple of the tutors in the writing center were also affected—and they’ve been a hearty bunch all year, but they couldn’t escape this one.”

The Warren County Health Department stepped in and took a look at many of the surrounding food services in town, including Monmouth College’s very own cafeteria, and found that the virus was not food-related. The best explanation that the Health Department could come up with was that someone used the toilet without washing their hands afterwards and spread the virus. Immediately after learning this, the College asked their maintenance crews to do a deep clean across campus, especially on things like toilets, seats, sinks and door knobs.

So, as reports of the virus slowly begin to dwindle, it is important to remember to maintain good personal hygiene, to avoid making food while you are ill and to take the day off if you do become sick. Since the norovirus is extremely contagious, it is important that all of Warren County works together to get rid of it.

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