A wave of flu-like symptoms affecting students on campus could be the result of a virus, University officials said Wednesday.
About 35 students went to Student Health Wednesday complaining of symptoms that included nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea, said Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs. All students seen by Student Health have received treatment and none had been admitted to the hospital, he added.
Moneta noted that Duke typically sees a spike in illnesses among students after Spring Break.
"It does not appear to be life-threatening," he said. "It appears to be a discomforting virus, and that's not uncommon."
Although Student Health saw several students who complained of stomach problems Tuesday, Dr. Bill Purdy, executive director of Student Health, said officials did not become concerned until about six students were admitted to the Emergency Room at Duke Hospital that night with similar symptoms.
Purdy added that he suspects many more students on campus are sick but could not give an estimate of how many.
Moneta sent a blast e-mail early Wednesday evening notifying students of the illnesses and advising them to contact Student Health instead of going to the hospital if they feel sick.
"We're keeping Student Health staff on site for as long as necessary," Moneta said. "We know the emergency department can be a very awkward and uncomfortable place as evening comes."
If the source of the ailments is indeed a virus, Purdy said the symptoms could last anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days.
Because the students seen by Student Health live on different parts of campus, ate at different vendors the night before the onset of their illnesses and traveled to various locations in and out of the country over Spring Break, it is difficult to pinpoint a common source for the flu-like symptoms, Purdy said.
He added that Student Health was able to obtain stool samples from two sick students, and test results should be available within 24 to 48 hours.
Several students who were sick said they felt better about 24 hours after they first exhibited symptoms. If sick students are able to keep fluids down and stay hydrated, there is no need to visit the ER, Purdy said.
Instead of going to Student Health, sophomore Scott Gorlick-who fell sick Tuesday night-said he went to see his physician in Durham, who advised him to go to Durham Regional Hospital to receive intravenous fluids.
Although sophomore Erin Good went to Student Health Tuesday, she said she was sent to Duke Hospital for further tests and a CAT scan because doctors could not identify her ailment.
Purdy noted that Duke University Medical Center's Department of Pediatrics has also treated patients with flu-like symptoms, so it appears some members of the Durham community may be suffering from the same malady.
The University notified the North Carolina Division of Public Health of the sicknesses on campus Wednesday morning, Purdy said. The agency did not report any similar cases in other Triangle cities.
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