Update: Contagious Gastrointestinal Virus
In the past two days, the students have arrived at on- and off-campus medical facilities exhibiting symptoms of a contagious, but self-limiting, virus: with vomiting, diarrhea and stomach-cramping. Symptoms of the virus are short lived, lasting 1-2 days, and most cases can be managed with rest and fluids. In some cases dehydration may need to be treated by a doctor.
USC is offering medical aid to those who need it through the University Health Center and LA emergency responders. In an e-mail notification being sent to the USC community Sunday, the University urged students who are not feeling well -- or who have had contact with other sick students -- to avoid socializing and take every precaution to reduce the chance of infecting their fellow students.
USC faculty, students, and staff are asked to take reasonable precautions to help contain spread of the virus, including: frequent hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer gels or wipes, and refraining from sharing work stations, food, and beverages.
Open Letter to Campus Community:
October 5, 2008
To: The USC Community
Fr: Michael Jackson, Vice President, Student Affairs
Todd Dickey, Senior Vice President, Administration
Re: Update: Contagious Gastrointestinal Virus
As you may know, our campus has been affected by a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus. Here is an update on what we know:
About 130 USC students have fallen sick with a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus.
In the past two days, the students have arrived at on- and off-campus medical facilities exhibiting symptoms of a contagious, but self-limiting, virus: with vomiting, diarrhea and stomach-cramping.
USC is offering medical aid to those students who need it through the University Health Center and LA emergency responders.
We are urging students who are not feeling well -- or who have had contact with other sick students -- to avoid socializing and take every precaution to reduce the chance of infecting their fellow students.
The suspected virus can be contagious for several days after a person recovers; therefore the University is asking everyone in the USC community to frequently wash hands, especially after eating, preparing food, or using the restroom.
Symptoms of the virus are short lived, lasting 1-2 days, and most cases can be managed with rest and fluids. In some cases dehydration may need to be treated by a doctor.
Campus offices and classes will continue to operate as usual, however we are asking USC faculty and staff to take reasonable precautions to help contain spread of the virus. If you are not feeling well, call your supervisor and request to take a sick day. If you fall ill at work, please notify your supervisor and then contact your usual health care provider. In an emergency, dial 911.
The entire campus community – students, faculty, and staff – are asked to take extra hygiene precautions: wash hands frequently, use hand sanitizer gels or wipes, refrain from sharing work stations, food, and beverages.
Please note that those staff who are dealing in a very direct way with sick students will take additional protections to ensure their safety, including, in some cases, use of masks and gloves.
Because of the need to sanitize any affected areas, please notify custodial staff immediately if there are areas in USC facilities that need cleaning.
The housing office will, as possible, make available hand purifier gels and sanitary wipes.
Student Residence Update
Residence Halls: all common areas and restrooms in residence halls on campus have been thoroughly cleaned, and staff will intensify cleaning as needed. Students needing maintenance in their facility are asked to phone: 213-740-4646 [24 hour service].
All campus hospitality facilities have been cleaned top to bottom, and hospitality will conduct multiple cleanings daily.
The administration is providing additional sanitation measures to university-owned housing and Greek Row. In addition, cleaning supplies will be made available to students living in non-university housing. Students needing supplies are asked to contact the housing office.
Health Precautions
If you are ill:
• Drink plenty of clear liquids to stay hydrated.
• Do not prepare food for others. Make sure to wash your hands before and during preparation of your own meals.
• Stay home and recover to avoid passing the illness to others.
If you need special assistance, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 213-740- 4321 or call 911.
Tips for staying healthy include:
• If you are healthy, avoid contact with sick people.
• The most important tool against illness is good hand-washing.
Wash your hands often, especially before and during meal preparation, and after using the restroom.
USC is working with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to contain and prevent the further spread of this illness. For more information on how to prevent illness and stay healthy, please visit the Public Health website at:
http://www.lapublichealth.org/acd/docs/NorovirusFactSheet_06.pdf.
Thank you.
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USC in the News
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The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned USC’s $6 billion fundraising campaign. The story noted that USC had already raised $1 billion in a “quiet phase,” including the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College.
The Guardian (U.K.) highlighted two major gifts to USC in a list of the 10 biggest philanthropic benefactors in America. The list included the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.
The New York Times featured the USC U.S.-China Institute documentary “Assignment: China — The Week that Changed the World.” The documentary, part of a series, examines media coverage of the 1972 Nixon trip that reshaped U.S.-China relations after a quarter century of isolation and hostility. “People look back now and take it for granted that the outcome was preordained,” said the institute’s Mike Chinoy, who produced the documentary. Voice of America also featured the story.
Los Angeles Times featured the Oscar Senti-meter, a tool developed by the USC Annenberg School, Los Angeles Times and IBM that analyzes thousands of tweets about the Academy Awards nominees. The story noted that Mexican actor Demian Bechir received an enormous boost on Twitter the day of the nominations, with a total of 6,893 tweets mentioning him, a 47-fold increase from the day before. The story noted the tool uses language-recognition technology developed in collaboration with USC Viterbi School’s Signal Analysis and Interpretation Lab.
The Times of India (India) featured a three-day medical emergency training workshop organized in association with USC. At the workshop, held at GCS Medical College in India, 50 doctors and more than 100 paramedics learned how to improve emergency support systems. William Mallon of the Keck School of USC said that discussion topics included the use of portable ultrasonic devices to scan patients. “The ultrasound applications help physicians make accurate and timely decisions,” he noted. Daily News & Analysis (India) also featured the workshop.
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