Hope College closed by norovirus

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - Shut it down. Wash it down.

That is the order from Ottawa County health officials after more than 120 Hope College students became ill from a noro-like virus.

The campus health clinic noticed the beginning of the outbreak on Thursday. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, all pointing to the highly contagious norovirus. Officials are awaiting tests to determine exactly what virus it is.

But they do know it's very contagious.

"We called this a perfect storm," said Lisa Stefanovsky of the Ottawa County Health Department. "We've got students coming and going. They're congregating. "

Making it very easy to spread.

As the number of patients closed in on 120, county health officials ordered the campus shut down.

Classes, sporting events, any gathering of people on the campus is prohibited. All dining facilities are closed and won't reopen until they are disinfected. All common areas in dorms, classroom buildings and other public facilities will need to be cleaned as well.

Everything from desktops to door knobs.

And with Hope's close proximity to downtown Holland, campus officials aren't taking any chances. They have asked campus security and Holland police to break up any parties or other student gathering both on, and off, campus.

"I don't think they can arrest them. I can certainly have judicial action taken against them, which is something I can do and have done before," said Dr. Richard Frost, dean of students at Hope College when asked what students faced if they refused to disperse.

As for the source of the outbreak, the only thing ruled out so far is the campus food supply. Health inspectors found no evidence of contamination.

The virus is also spread through contact with surfaces, like tables, computer keyboards, phones or any number of sources.

Stefanovsky said they may never know where it all started. "It's a very easy-to-spread virus. And it's very difficult to track the source. "

School and health officials say they will monitor the situation throughout the weekend. They hope to reopen the campus by Tuesday.