185 students sickened at Ursinus
At least 30 treated for symptoms of stomach ailment at area health facilities
COLLEGEVILLE >> The number of students who reported symptoms of a stomach infection at Ursinus College has increased to 185 since the outbreak was first detected Tuesday, according to officials.
“The increase in the number of people experiencing symptoms between Wednesday night and Thursday is not surprising, given the incubation period typical for gastrointestinal illnesses,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, the interim medical director of the Montgomery County Health Department. “Students or staff who have experienced symptoms may call the Health Department at 610-278-5117 to share information to aid in the investigation,” Arkoosh said Thursday.
As of Thursday afternoon, at least 30 students sought treatment at local hospitals and an urgent care center, according to the college.
While some faculty and staff have contracted the infection, the college doesn’t have the total number available. No students were admitted to the hospital,
just treated in emergency rooms and released.
The illness was first realized at around 2 p.m. Tuesday and quickly began affecting approximately 100 students by Wednesday afternoon. Ursinus stated that they have been working closely with the Montgomery County Health Department in monitoring the illness and trying to determine the cause.
Paul Doghramji, medical director of health services at the wellness center at Ursinus, said the symptoms of the infection are lasting on average about 18 hours.
“It’s obviously a gastroenteritis in medical terms,” he told reporters Thursday, confirming it is spreading from person to person. “In layman’s terms it’s a stomach and intestinal infection that the students are getting.”
Symptoms begin with nausea and vomiting, then, as the infection makes its way through the body, diarrhea.
“Those are just normal bodily mechanisms to get rid of the infection,” he said. “Vomiting gets rid of the virus, and so does diarrhea. Once that happens and the infection is out of the system, then the body starts to heal itself. The problem is sometimes when you throw up a lot and have diarrhea a lot, you lose your bodily fluids, which of course is dehydration.”
A small fraction of students have reportedly been dehydrated to the point where needed to go to an emergency room or urgent care center, he said. A total of 26 students were taken to the hospital.
In his 21 years working on campus, Doghramji said he has never seen an infection this bad before, but the numbers are beginning to come down. He saw about 50 patients Wednesday morning but only 20 patients Thursday morning. Doctors have been giving anti-nausea and antidiarrheal medication to help treat the infection and help students rehydrate themselves.
“It seems to be trailing off and I think the reason for that is because we’ve mobilized everything that we can with the students as well as employees at Ursinus College,” he said. “The sick students are doing what they’re supposed to do to keep isolated. The well ones are doing what they’re supposed to do to keep themselves from getting sick. And also the employees are making sure that areas are cleaned off.”
The college is working closely with emergency room doctors at Einstein Medical Center-Montgomery. Samples of the infection have been sent to the laboratory for analysis and have since been taken over by the Montgomery County Board of Health. Doghramji said he expects it will take several days to confirm the cause of the illnesses, most likely by this weekend.
The focus now is keeping the infection from continuing to spread.
The college voluntarily closed its cafeteria and snack bar allowing county health officials to continue gathering information regarding the illness, school officials announced Wednesday afternoon. Ursinus temporarily closed the fitness center for cleaning but the facility was expected to reopen after it had been cleaned. Additional cleaning was being done in residential and high traffic areas, such as common areas and lounges. Wismer dining hall was reopened Thursday evening for dinner after the Montgomery County Board of Health completed its inspection.
Students in residence halls were encouraged to contact the school’s cleaning service email address so that instances of vomit could be cleaned and sanitized as quickly as possible. Students were also instructed to practice good hygiene, not to share dishes and sanitize surfaces in their rooms. Bathrooms were being cleaned regularly in addition to the emails sent to the school’s cleaning service email address.
Classes have been canceled for the remainder of Thursday and for Friday. All weekend activities were also canceled to limit student contact with each other and to allow emergency responders to focus on those who may be ill during the weekend.
“Ursinus’ first priority is the health and well-being of our students,” said President Brock Blomberg. “We will continue to work closely with officials from the Department of Health and follow their recommendations. In addition, Ursinus couldn’t be more grateful for the outpouring of support it has received from the surrounding community to help us support our students.”
Several area restaurants and stores including Wawa and Wegmans helped the college by providing food to students at no cost. “It was a great community response to helping our students be fed and taken care of,” said Missy Bryant, assistant dean of students.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., in the lobby of the Floy Lewis Bakes Athletics Center, Ursinus partnered with Wawa and Wegmans to offer students a grab and-go breakfast that was served by faculty, staff and volunteers. Lunch began at 11:30 a.m. in the same location, when Ursinus, Wawa and the Collegeville Italian Bakery were on hand to support the students, according to an update from the school.
“It’s been a really big undertaking,” Bryant said. “Our facilities department has coordinated with us as well as faculty and staff and community partners. So it’s been a joint effort.”
For dinner, area businesses including the Collegeville Italian Bakery, The Pizza Stop, Rocco’s, Franco’s Pizza Family Restaurant and Marzella’s Pizzeria welcomed Ursinus students. Students received $10 vouchers that would allow them to purchase food.
For their part, students remained optimistic given the circumstances. Most said they appreciated the way the school was handling the situation.
“I’m glad how much work they’re trying to do to keep us healthy,” said freshman Rennes Gerenser. “I’m more nervous about getting sick from somebody else.”
“It feels like we’re in some kind of weird FEMA situation,” said freshman Will Wells. “You go into the largest building and there’s a handout line. But I think the school’s dealing with it well considering the circumstances.”
“It’s lunch fromthe community too,” said senior Don Morreale. “At least they’re good lunches.”
“It’s nice that Wawa came and helped us out, Collegeville Bakery as well. So it’s nice that they’re doing all this.”