Norovirus outbreak at the George Washington University campus

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDFeb 18 2012

Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of the highly-contagious Norovirus in the George Washington University campus this Wednesday.

Officials at the university and the District of Columbia's Health Department confirmed 85 cases of the gastrointestinal illness were diagnosed since Monday. The virus was found in locations including the central Foggy Bottom campus and the Mount Vernon campus in Northwest Washington. Members of the university also reported cases off campus.

An effort to stop the virus from spreading by cleaning of heavily-used communal areas and installing hand sanitizers is being made. It also issued advisory encouraging students, faculty and staff members to wash their hands frequently and disinfect surfaces. Norovirus is passed through direct contact with an infected person, eating or drinking contaminated food and liquid, or by touching contaminated surfaces then placing hands or fingers in the mouth, according to the body.

Dr. Henry Masur of the National Institutes of Health said, “One in 14 Americans will get norovirus every year ... it's very common. It is extremely uncomfortable, but the good news is after 48 to 72 hours of very unpleasant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea … it goes away.” In New Jersey, both Princeton University and Rider University also recently reported ongoing outbreaks of the illness on campus.

The Centers for Disease Control says there are 21 million cases each year in the US. According to the CDC, people with the virus are contagious up to two weeks after they begin to have symptoms.  Typically, most people get better within a couple of days, but this can be a serious illness for some and there is no treatment or vaccine.

“Since January 1, 2012, DOH has investigated a total of four confirmed norovirus outbreaks [in Washington, D.C.], including the outbreak at GWU,” said Najma Roberts, Public Information Officer for the DC Department of Health. “Now is typically the time of year in which the city experiences a rise in this type of illness and it can cease as quickly as it occurs.  While norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year, nationally over 80% of them occur during November to April.”