Alan Glass, director of the Habif Health and Wellness Center, sent an e-mail to students on March 6, alerting them to several cases of viral gastroenteritis.

“Anytime we have things come up all at once like this, we look into them more critically,” said Glass.

Twenty students were tested prior to spring break for exhibiting possible symptoms of gastroenteritis. Glass stated that the exact number of students with the illness is difficult to assess because its symptoms are not readily identifiable.

Glass noted that the majority of students were afflicted between Sunday and Tuesday and that Student Health Services saw an encouraging decrease in affected students within the following 24 hours. No new cases have been reported since before spring break.

All 20 students are residents of the residence halls on the South 40.

The cause has been linked to viral gastroenteritis, a viral infection of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and general weakness. Glass reports patients improving within 24-48 hours of symptom onset. Glass is not linking the virus to a food-borne source.

“Realistically, gastroenteritis happens all the time, in what is commonly called the ‘stomach flu,’” said Glass. “The virus is not particularly dangerous to young, healthy people.”

Student Health Services worked with the Washington University School of Medicine and the St. Louis County Department of Health to investigate the illness.

The St. Louis County Department of Health collected and examined stool samples from the affected students in order to determine the illness’ viral nature. The department also interviewed students to assess whether or not they had the virus and to determine its cause.

The St. Louis County Department of Health found no specific cause for the virus. However, the virus is spread by contact with excreted viral material, and Glass is encouraging students to wash their hands to prevent the spread of the illness.

“It seems trivial that the instructions would be to just wash your hands, but it is the primary way to keep [the virus] from spreading,” said Glass.

According to Glass, sharing common bathrooms in the residence halls facilitated the spread of the virus. The facilities department responded to the virus through enhanced cleaning efforts in bathrooms prior to and over spring break. Common bathrooms are now cleaned more frequently and with a stronger cleaner.

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