Muhlenplague wreaks havoc on students and sewage

Over the weekend, Muhlenberg’s campus was significantly affected by the semester’s first wave of the so-called ‘Muhlenplague.’

Although it is usually associated with seasonal influenza, this version of the ‘Muhlenplague’ has struck in the form of viral gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as the stomach flu. On Feb. 2, students were notified by email of the outbreak, and a second email on Feb. 7 asked students to fill out an online form regarding their symptoms.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), viral gastroenteritis is an acute infection of the stomach or intestine that is spread by accidentally getting stool or vomit of an infected individual into your mouth. Generally, this occurs by consuming contaminated foods or liquids, touching contaminated surfaces and then putting fingers in your mouth, or having contact with an infected individual.

Many students have referred to this outbreak as the “norovirus,” which is correct in the sense that norovirus is one of the many types of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis, said Professor Chrysan Cronin, Director of the Public Health program.

“The good news is that, even though there are multiple strains of the norovirus, it is unlikely (though not impossible) that you would get infected with a different strain in the same season,” said Cronin.

The worst of the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but they typically only last for 24-48 hours. The primary concern with persistent vomiting and diarrhea is the risk of dehydration, a deficit of total body water.

“Dehydration requires medical attention,” said Brynnmarie Dorsey, Director of the Health Center. “If you think you are dehydrated, you should call or go the Health Center during the day or call Campus Safety after hours.”

As such, the treatment for gastroenteritis is to rest and drink fluids—sports drinks or Pedialyte with electrolytes or other non-caffeinated beverages are best—and then wait for the virus to run its course.

“It is also helpful if the sick person remains as quarantined as possible so that the virus is not spread to individuals in the dorm, classroom, or dining hall,” said Cronin. “Even when people feel better, they can be contagious for up to two weeks after the illness.”

The Health Center acknowledged that “several students” have been affected by the outbreak but would not provide any further information, citing federal patient privacy laws. Muhlenberg College EMS confirmed that seven patients had received treatment for suspected gastroenteritis since Jan. 31.

Due to the close proximity of individuals, college campuses are one of the most susceptible locations for an outbreak, said Cronin. In this way, Muhlenberg is no different than any other college campus.

The key to mitigating the outbreak is to prevent opportunities for the virus to spread, which includes hand washing and disinfecting of surfaces. The virus is able to live on surfaces for up to two weeks, and a chlorine-based bleach is necessary to kill the virus.

Nevertheless, the campus is not taking any shortcuts in addressing the outbreak. According to the emails sent from the Dean of Students Office, Plant Operations has been sanitizing surfaces with a “hospital-grade cleaning product” more than usual and in high traffic areas on campus in response to the outbreak. In turn, students are being asked to notify Campus Safety or their RA if they are aware of a student who may need medical attention or if there are empty soap dispensers in bathrooms.

There is also the potential for norovirus to be spread through food, mainly in restaurants, either resulting from contamination at the food’s source or because employees handling food are sick. However, according to Michael Saylor, Manager of the Wood Dining Commons, no members of his staff have been infected with the virus, and there have been no reported cases of contaminated food to date.

Ultimately, and as mentioned before, gastroenteritis usually runs its course in a matter of days, and rarely results in any long-term effects. It is important, however, to take it easy in the days following relief from symptoms.

“Once you do start to feel better and begin to eat solid food again, start out eating light to give your gastrointestinal tract a chance to recover,” said Cronin. “This means no bagel bombs or pizza for a couple of days.”