More Than 50 Ill In Stanford University Dining Hall Outbreak

By Sam Lewis

Norovirus suspected of causing illness at an on campus eatery

More than 50 students and employees at Stanford University have become ill in what is suspected to be a norovirus outbreak, according to a spokesperson for the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Nororvirus is a common cause of gastro intestinal infections.

This outbreak appears to have started in the dining hall at Florence Moore Hall. Some students and employees who ate there began complaining of symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea on Tuesday afternoon. “Because the students all became ill quickly, and in the same vicinity, we believe the pattern is consistent with norovirus,” says Ira Friedman, director of Stanford University’s student health facility. So far, no one has been admitted for a hospital stay due to the outbreak, but four students have been given intravenous fluids to treat dehydration.

The dining hall was closed on the evening of Thursday, Oct 31, and will remain closed until Sunday, Nov 3 to heavily sanitize the facility. Meanwhile, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department is investigating the outbreak in hopes of finding the source of the contamination, along with confirming that norovirus is the cause of the outbreak. This process could take more than a week.

Norovirus is most commonly spread through unwashed hands and sharing food or drink with someone who has contracted it. The virus is very contagious, sickening nearly 20,000,000 Americans each year, and is most common in cold weather months, when people tend to stay indoors. While the virus leads to 800 deaths and 14,000 hospitalizations each year — mainly in those with compromised immune systems — almost all infected quickly recover. It is difficult to prevent the spread of norovirus, but prevention measures include hand washing after using the restroom and before preparing foods and beverages. Those who are infected are advised to limit their contact with others, not prepare or handle food, rest, and hydrate.

Stanford University’s early detection played an important role in limiting the outbreak. Had the university not notified the Santa Clara County Public Health Department immediately after recognizing a problem, the outbreak could have affected hundreds, perhaps thousands, opposed to less than 60.