The University of Notre Dame reported this afternoon that 107 people have been treated for the symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness at the campus. All of the patients, who were at the university for football, hockey, women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, and women’s tennis camps, have been “successfully treated”, according to a press release.
The cause of the illness is not known and was not associated with physical activity. Notre Dame officials are working with the St. Joseph County Health Department to discover the cause of the outbreak.
The number of ill campers was updated throughout the day. Originally, 70 people were reported ill. That number was increased to 90 at noon, then finally 107 at 3 pm EDT.
Investigators think the illness may be related to food or a virus. Once an outbreak occurs, person-to-person contact can spread most foodborne and waterborne illnesses relatively easily.
To prevent this, it’s important to wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth during the day while you’re participating in activities. And don’t share equipment like water bottles to stop the bacteria’s spread.
