Update: CalArts Closes Campus As Precaution After Outbreak Of Illness

Posted by: KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 in Santa Clarita News November 1, 2013 - 8:00 pm 0 263 Views

Update 11/03/13 1:30 p.m.

“The norovirus is a group of highly contagious viruses that affect the stomach and intestines and can lead to gastroenteritis. It can be passed by coming in contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces or consuming contaminated food or drink. Symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea and generally last 1–3 days,” according to the Campus Health Advisory webpage. “The virus has been prevalent in California with an outbreak recently reported at Stanford University. For more information about the norovirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, go tohttp://www.cdc.gov/features/norovirus/.”

Students who are living on the CalArts Campus and have any of the symptoms are urged to contact the 24-hour Health Services staff in-person or on the phone at 661-253-7830.

The Los Angeles County Center for Disease Control has several links (below) for more information about the norovirus.

SYMPTOMS: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/symptoms.html

TRANSMISSION:http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/transmission.html

PREVENTION: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/preventing-infection.html

TREATMENT: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/treatment.html

KEY FACTS: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/downloads/keyfacts.pdf

Please fill out the online survey if you are experiencing any symptoms.

“The CalArts Café and the Tatum Lounge will remain closed at least through the end-of-day on Monday, Nov. 4. CalArts has arranged for the Biola Soaring Eagle food truck to be on campus from 10 am-5 pm through the weekend to provide meals for students remaining on campus,” according to the Campus Health Advisory webpage. “All food will be prepared by the Biola Food truck staff. Boxed meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also available for our nonresident students who are on the CalArts meal plan. To minimize wait times and inconvenience for students, meals should be ordered in advance by calling Lani Bidwell at 661-236-8473. “

CalArts would like to remind students to keep checking the Campus Health Advisory webpage for the most up-to-date information.

“While we don’t yet have a definitive answer on what is causing these illnesses, given the symptoms reported and the pattern in which this illness has spread, the LA County Public Health Department has said that it appears consistent with a stomach virus like the norovirus,” according to the Campus Health Advisory webpage. “Due to the continued spread of illness throughout the CalArts community, Senior Administration officials made the decision to close down the CalArts campus effective Friday, Nov. 1 through the end-of-day on Monday, Nov. 4.”

INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CALARTS HEALTH ADVISORY WEBPAGE.

Update 11/02/13 2:00 p.m.: “Nothing has changed since our 5 p.m. update on Friday. The school will stay closed on Monday,” Crane said. “For the most up-to-date information, check out the Campus Health Advisory webpage.”

BY MEGAN PEREZ SCVNEWS.COM

Administrators at CalArts closed down the Valencia campus Friday evening in efforts to contain the spread of an illness that affected at least 16 people since Tuesday.

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“We are taking all possible health precautions at this point,” said Margaret Crane, CalArts media relations manager.

The illness has continued to spread, she said.

CalArts administrators have cancelled all classes and campus activities until the end-of-day Monday.

This includes the popular CalArts Halloween, party which was scheduled to happen Friday night.

An online health update posted Friday on the universities website states, “This is not a decision the Administration and Student Council made lightly — but the health and safety of the entire CalArts community is our top priority.”

The campus is scheduled to reopen Tuesday morning, Crane said Friday.

Students who live on campus are being allowed to remain on campus over the weekend.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials said Thursday they are investigating 16 cases of what they suspect to be norovirus.

The highly contagious gastrointestinal virus causes inflammation in stomach and/or intestines leading to stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea and vomiting.

Public health officials could not be reached Friday night to confirm if the illness has spread.

CalArts faculty, staff and students are being asked by the Public Health Department to complete an online survey to help them pinpoint the cause of the outbreak.

School officials say to check the Campus Health Advisory webpage for up to date information.

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