Stomach virus outbreak at USC may have peaked

Students with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps have been treated at on- and off-campus medical clinics for the last few days. The university has been cleaning dorms and dining halls to limit further spread of the virus, but classes and other campus functions have been kept on a normal schedule.

Dr. Lawrence Neinstein, executive director of the health center on USC's main University Park campus, said the number of students seeking medical care appeared to be declining Sunday and today after the initial reports of illness on Friday and Saturday. "The trend is good," he said, noting it was too early to say anything more definitive.

Students who suffered serious dehydration were given intravenous fluids and about 10 were briefly hospitalized, often because other medical conditions put them at some risk, he said.

USC officials emphasized that the problem was not caused by any food contamination. Over the weekend, a campus dining facility called "Everybody's Kitchen" was closed for a few hours while Los Angeles County health inspectors examined and found no evidence of any contamination, according to campus spokesman James Grant. The facility was then reopened.

Symptoms of the virus are short-lived, lasting one to two days. However, Neinstein stressed that students still can be contagious for several days after they feel better.

"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," Michael L. Jackson, USC's vice president for student affairs, said in a message sent to the campus community. He also recommended that all students, teachers and faculty frequently wash their hands.

Georgetown University in Washington is experiencing a similar viral outbreak, with more than 200 students there sickened since last week, according to announcements from that university.

Larry.gordon@latimes.com