Hope College in Holland, Michigan has been shut down until Wednesday after a campus-wide outbreak of a noro-like virus. The emergency order was issued by the Ottawa Country Health Department after the number of cases had risen to 400 out of Hope’s 3,226 students.

Infected students off campus have been told not to return to campus until they get better. Symptoms of the virus include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and usually last about 24 to 48 hours. It might sound cool to have classes canceled, but chances are you wouldn’t want to be spending your time off like this.

And the worst news? If you get it there’s really nothing you can do besides let it pass. No medications are used to treat the norovirus and the best advice doctors can give is just to wait it out. But there are some ways to prevent it from spreading, which is what Hope and Health and Safety officials are now investigating.

• The key to preventing the virus or reducing it from spreading is hand washing, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers or before eating or preparing food. Proper hand washing requires warm running water, soap and cleansing of the hands for about 30 seconds. For more information see BC HealthFile #85 Hand Washing for Parents and Kids.

• Bathrooms need special attention and should be disinfected with a bleach solution.

• Any food that has been handled by a person with the virus, or exposed while a person vomited, should be thrown-out.

• Dishes and utensils should be washed with hot water and detergent or in a dishwasher.
• Laundry should also be washed with hot water and detergent.

• People who are ill and handle food or those who provide care for others should stay away from work while they are sick and for two days after they are better. Even when diarrhea and vomiting have stopped, the virus can still be in the stool (bowel movement) for as long as two weeks. Be sure to wash hands carefully and often.

• If someone is ill with a Norovirus, discourage visitors at home. It is best to wait for a couple days after everyone is better and the house is cleaned and disinfected.

• When a family member is sick with vomiting or diarrhea, it is a good idea for that person to try to stay in a separate room and not be around others. Everyone in the family should wash their hands often with soap and water. Use different towels or paper towels for drying hands to help prevent people from getting sick.