Fraternity may also have men sick with 'stomach flu'

By KYLE ODEGARD

Gazette-Times reporter

The Benton County Health Department is investigating a suspected norovirus outbreak at an Oregon State University sorority, and has isolated 10 Delta Gamma members inside their house.

"They're hoping that by keeping all the sick girls on the first floor, that it will be gone on Monday," said Alison Tanaka, a Delta Gamma member and president of the Panhellenic Council.

About 60 women live at the sorority house at 715 N.W. 23rd St.

The health department also is discouraging visitors at the sorority house, hoping that will stop the spread of the illness.

An OSU fraternity also may have several students sick from an outbreak of the illness, which is commonly known as the "stomach flu," said Todd Simmons, OSU assistant vice president of university advancement.

Early Wednesday night, the health

department had yet to contact the 70-member Phi Delta Theta fraternity, 120 N.W. 13th St.

"We thought it was food poisoning … we had six or eight guys (get sick)," said Chon Madrigal, a junior at Phi Delta Theta.

Members of the fraternity and sorority regularly socialize and likely were visiting together because of the start of winter term on Monday, Tanaka said.

Bill Emminger, deputy administrator of the environmental health division of the Benton County Health Department, said some students will miss at least three to five days of classes.

Emminger added that it could take four or five days for tests to confirm that it is norovirus.

Symptoms of norovirus usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping, and the illness usually begins suddenly, lasting for a day or two, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In some cases it can cause severe dehydration that requires special medical attention.

Norovirus typically is transmitted through oral contact with fecal matter, but it can also be transmitted through the air, Emminger said.

Those who get sick and suspect norovirus should contact their medical provider, Emminger said.

Hand washing can help stop the spread of the disease, as can thoroughly cleaning contaminated surfaces with a bleach-based household cleaner.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.