Students with symptoms of influenza and norovirus should rest in their rooms, said Director of Health Services Brock Lutz. Courtesy | US BlastingNews

Students should skip class if they feel sick as influenza and norovirus spread across campus, according to a Feb. 19 email from Director of Health Services Brock Lutz, who also told The Collegian that while he did not want to reveal specifics, the number of sick students has “certainly been higher than usual.”

“Something like this spreads pretty quickly, which is why we thought it would be helpful to send out an informational email,” Lutz said. “We wanted to make sure that people knew some of the signs, ways to practice preventative care, and important steps in case people do get sick.”

To prevent the viruses from spreading, Lutz said students should wash their hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching their faces, and clean high-touch areas with bleach. To avoid norovirus, students should not prepare food for others if sick and should wash fruits and vegetables before eating, Lutz said in his email to campus.

Lutz said hydration is one of the most important ways sick students can take care of themselves because they lose so many fluids. Students should also rest and avoid common areas.

Norovirus, often called “stomach flu,” usually lasts one to three days and is contagious up to 48 hours after symptoms stop, the campus-wide email said. Its symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, body aches, and headaches.

Influenza can last from a couple days to two weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is contagious from the onset of symptoms until 24 hours without a fever. Symptoms include sore throat, congestion, body aches, headaches, chills, cough, fever, and fatigue.

Although Health Services sent the email to provide more information about avoiding and treating the viruses, Lutz said students should not panic.

“While it is a challenging illness, it also seems to run its course pretty quickly, and so there is no reason to be overwhelmed by the prospect of getting sick,” Lutz said.

Lutz said students should call Health Services if sick, especially with the stomach flu, to receive care instructions or set up an appointment with the nurse or doctor. In the campus-wide email, Lutz asked students to set up appointments instead of walking in to avoid exposure to others.

Todd Gerry, general manager of Hillsdale Dining, said Metz Culinary Management is aware of the situation.

“I assure you we will follow all guidelines set forth by state and local health departments,” Gerry said. “We plan to continue with the policies put in place and feel confident in keeping the food areas safe for anyone to enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the chefs.”

Lutz said housekeeping is also working to minimize virus transmission.

Senior Ruthie Chinery, house director of Benzing Residence, said housekeeping will stop entering rooms to collect trash to try to avoid becoming sick.

“But our housekeeper has been sanitizing high-touch areas as much as she can all week,” Chinery said.

Junior Olyvia Oeverman, head resident assistant of Olds Residence, said six women have had norovirus symptoms and at least 10 others have missed class with flu-like symptoms.

“Our house director, ‘Mama A,’ Ava Ramuni, and housekeeper Tammy Fain have been our heroes in this situation,” Oeverman said. “Mama A has visited all of the sick residents, giving them soup and oranges, checking temperatures, and communicating with the deans to excuse absences. Our housekeeper has been disinfecting door knobs, cleaning the carpets, and handing out emesis bags and masks to any girls who don’t feel well. We’re so grateful for their service to us.”

Sophomore Ava Jolley, resident assistant in McIntyre Residence, said she noticed significant absences in class.

“One of my classes normally has 25 people and it had nine or 10 today, all out for sickness,” Jolley said. “There’s a couple people that are sick at least in my hall, but not all of them have the norovirus and stomach situation — some of it is flu, because that’s also going around, but in our hall, I think it’s like 50-50 flu and norovirus.”

Jolley said she thinks freshmen are getting sick more than other students.

“It’s understandable, because they haven’t been in constantly close spaces with other people yet, so their immune systems aren’t used to it,” she said.

Jolley said the McIntyre house director put out Emergen-C for the residents. She said students should practice common sense if they are sick.

“If you just wash your hands like a normal human being with soap and hot water, and you don’t cough into another person’s face, you should be fine,” Jolley said. “Don’t go around licking people or anything — that’s just stupid.”

Associate Dean of Men Jeffery “Chief” Rogers said students should take responsibility for their health. He said the college would not cancel classes as numbers rise.

“This is a self-governed institution, so we want kids to let somebody know, and then get something to help you with that,” Rogers said. “Don’t stay in a room and dehydrate yourself. Wash your hands and use proper hygiene, and don’t throw up on the stairs.”

Junior Phaedra Kelley said while she hasn’t caught influenza or the norovirus, she’s been trying to boost her immune system.

“When it comes to regular illness like colds and flus, I often take herbal tinctures with echinacea, goldenseal, or ginseng that I’ve found at the local natural grocer,” Kelley said. “I swear by these given that I would always get sick before I started them, and now the campus illness of the month almost never gets me, and when it does, I’m able to bounce back pretty quickly.”

With the latest sickness, Kelley said she is prioritizing her gut health with probiotics.

“I figure the more prepared I am, hopefully the better the symptoms will be if or when it gets me,” she said. “I’ve bought sauerkraut, yogurt, and recently picked up some homemade kefir from a friend. I’ve also upped my vitamin C intake and stocked up on electrolytes. Lastly, I bought some easy food I can make for myself to avoid Saga or AJ’s for as long as possible.”