More than two dozen students in a University of Minnesota residence hall have fallen ill from a suspected viral infection of unknown origin within a short period this week, prompting school officials to notify residents of the outbreak and disinfect four dormitories and two dining facilities to prevent further illnesses.
So far, 28 students in Frontier who have suffered from what state health officials suspect is a strain of norovirus, Minnesota Health Department spokesman Dough Schultz said Thursday. The university described the symptoms as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Norovirus is the most common cause of sudden intestinal illness. It is often mistakenly called "stomach flu," but it's not related to influenza.
State investigators are interviewing the sickened students about "what they've been eating and where they've been eating," Schultz said. He said his department started receiving reports of the illnesses early Wednesday.
Frontier is one of four halls located on adjacent blocks known collectively as the "Superblock" on the U's east bank. Frontier students eat their meals at neighboring Pioneer and Centennial halls.
Those three halls, along with Territorial, have been "thoroughly cleaned," as have the two dining facilities that serve students in those dormitories, said university spokesman Steve Henneberry.
"Housing staff are cleaning bathrooms, common spaces such as lounges, hallways, and surfaces such as railings, elevator buttons, door handles, etc.," Henneberry said. It's up to students to clean their rooms, he added.
Housing officials also have in place a "rapid response" cleanup plan, should any additional illnesses occur in the dorms or dining areas.
