Norovirus outbreak at Brown University

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has confirmed a norovirus outbreak on the Brown University campus.

State health officials say there are currently 28 cases reported from Brown, and that number could rise.

“You hear about it with cruise ships actually, anywhere where there is a large group of people concentrated in the same environment you’re susceptible to this,” says Dr. James McDonald of the RIDOH.

Symptoms of norovirus can include: dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and the lack of need to urinate.

Stoni Tomson, a Brown student, explains how tolling the virus can be, “So, my girlfriend was infected, it’s the stomach thing that’s going around, it was awful.”

Health officials say the norovirus is spread from surface to surface, not through the air, and the best way to protect yourself is by frequently washing your hands with soap and water.

McDonald explains, “The majority of the people are going to be better in a day or two, and as long as they drink plenty of fluids, try and get rest, and when I say plenty of fluids I mean things without caffeine in it. ”

The cause of the outbreak is currently unknown.

Health officials believe it is being spread from student to student and say if symptoms last longer than a couple days, they should consider going to a health clinic.