The University of Arizona is the latest campus to go through a norovirus outbreak.  Last Saturday, Melissa Vito, vice president for student affairs and Dr. Harry M. McDermott, executive director for campus health & wellness, sent an email to everyone on campus:

“We have received reports from University Medical Center that they have seen 15-20 University of Arizona students in their emergency room since last night suffering from symptoms that are consistent with a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus. Symptoms are similar to those of a norovirus, which medical officials suspect, but are awaiting confirmation based on lab results. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

“Noroviruses are not typically life threatening, but they are extremely uncomfortable for those experiencing them. The close quarters found in college fraternities, sororities and residence halls are ideal for quickly spreading the highly contagious viruses.

UA health officials are working with the Pima County Health Department to evaluate and monitor the situation.

Noroviruses are very contagious and can be spread easily from person to person. People infected with a norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill until at least three days after recovery. Both stool and vomit are infectious, including being in the vicinity of a person who is vomiting…”

The complete advisory can be found here.