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28 MSU
students suddenly fall sick Source of
Article: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090402/NEWS06/904020339/1001/NEWS College pulls produce, closes one dining
hall EAST LANSING - Michigan State
University closed one dining hall Wednesday and temporarily pulled fresh
produce from cafeterias across the campus after 28 students were hospitalized
with an unidentified gastrointestinal illness. The first cases hit at about 1:30
a.m. Wednesday, MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said. Afflicted students,
suffering from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, were taken to Sparrow Hospital
in Lansing. Hospital
spokeswoman Rose Tantraphol said that, as of 5:30 p.m., all but 12 of those
students had been released. None of those remaining were in serious condition. "Some of my
friends, one minute they looked fine, 20 minutes later they were throwing
up," said Reinhold Tischler, a freshman who lives in Shaw Hall, where
most of the afflicted students live. Shaw's cafeteria has been closed
indefinitely. "All of them threw up at the same time. It was the most
awkward thing ever. "People
don't know whether it's food poisoning or if it's a virus going around that's
really contagious," he added. Tischler ate
Tuesday in the Shaw cafeteria, which had him a little worried. "It just
concerns me because it's only happened in our dorm right now," said
Laura Naumann, a senior who also lives in Shaw and works in the cafeteria
there. "I have a
feeling that something in the cafeteria could have promoted some kind of
sickness or food poisoning," she said. "But from working in there -
and I work in the kitchen - I know it's really clean, so it kind of surprises
me." Dr. Dean Sienko,
medical director of the Ingham County Health Department, said it's too early
to tell exactly what caused the outbreak. It could be food-borne bacteria. It
could be a virus. "It looks
like it's something that people get better with after being rehydrated,"
he said, "but it's early. I'd hate to draw broad conclusions until we
have a little more time." He said it
doesn't appear to be E. coli. In September, a number of MSU students were
hospitalized after eating iceberg lettuce contaminated with E. coli. Sienko said his
department is working to identify additional cases at MSU. It will conduct
interviews with people who were affected and people who were not in an effort
to narrow down the cause. Physical
specimens also are being sent to the Michigan Department of Community Health
lab for testing. The
investigations "will take us at least a few more days," he said. MSU urges
students and staff to wash hands frequently with warm soapy water for a
minimum of 20 seconds and not to share any personal items such as
toothbrushes, silverware or glasses. Those with
symptoms are asked to contact Olin Student Health Center at (517) 353-5557. |
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