Influenza outbreak hits Tabor College campus

An influenza outbreak among students and faculty at Tabor College seems to have vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

Katrina Hancock, director of communications at Tabor, said between 30 and 50 people have been sick since Tuesday night.

?The worst of it was Tuesday night and into Friday, but by last weekend, we had only a few people sick,? she said.

Although some students had to go to the emergency room, most were better within 24 hours.

?We did call local hospital (officials) and doctors, who confirmed it was a 24-hour flu bug and not food poisoning.?

Hancock said one health care official told college employee Mary Bostic that it was a very common stomach virus with symptoms ranging from fever, aches, vomiting to diarrhea, headaches and weakness.

After several students started complaining about stomach issues, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Marion County Health Department were notified, she said.

?We don?t know how the students contracted it, but we do know it was passed around,? Hancock said.

The only concern now is whether KDHE can determine what it was because most, if not all, the students are healthy again.

Hancock said the virus could have been contracted during spring break last week with someone bringing it back with them.

?All the students came back Monday (from break), and by Tuesday the illness was full-fledged,? she said.

Hancock said 30 students told faculty members they were sick, but she suspects that number is higher.

?Every student I talked to Monday knew of someone else who was sick,? she said. ?As a rough guess, I would say it was more like 20 percent of the campus had this flu bug.?

With a total of 478 students on campus, college officials urged students who are sick to stay in bed, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.

As another way to help sick students, the cafeteria provided broth and applesauce in to-go containers, along with bottled water, she said.

?Other students are then taking these foods to friends and teammates?the college is wanted to be proactive last week.?

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