PRINCETON — The norovirus is making its way through Princeton University once again, with 65 students treated for vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps since Jan. 8, university spokesman Martin Mbugua said.

Samples sent to the New Jersey Department of Health tested positive for the virus, a common, highly contagious cause of stomach flu that sickened more than 400 Mercer County college students in a major outbreak last winter.

Among local colleges and universities, Princeton seems to be the only campus with a serious outbreak. No cases have been reported at The College of New Jersey, Rider University or Mercer County Community College, officials said.

The norovirus swept through all four colleges last February, with Rider and Princeton each reporting about 200 cases of gastroenteritis, a nasty stomach bug caused by the virus.

At Princeton, the outbreak overwhelmed the university’s health services center, filling every bed at the infirmary and sending some students to the hospital.

This year, Princeton University hopes to contain the bug, Mbugua said.

“The university sent a health advisory to members of the university community urging them to take steps to prevent the further spread of illness,” Mbugua said in an e-mail comment. “It is not unusual to see cases of gastroenteritis at this time of year.”

One in 15 Americans contracts norovirus each year, New Jersey Department of Health spokesman Donna Leusner said.

Recent New Jersey Department of Health surveys confirm a spike in norovirus cases throughout the state. The outbreak comes amid a particularly unforgiving flu season.



Four New Jersey children died after contracting the flu this winter, and the outbreak has not yet shown signs of subsiding, according to state Department of Health reports.



TCNJ reported one case of influenza since the semester started last week, spokesman Matt Golden said.

In an effort to circumvent an outbreak, the college encouraged students to get vaccinated before returning to campus, Golden said. TCNJ also held flu shot clinics during the fall semester, inoculating about 800 students, Golden said.

Flu shots will be administered at Rider from Jan. 31 until Feb. 7, university spokesman Sean Ramsden said.

There is no vaccination available for norovirus, but students can limit the spread of disease by washing their hands frequently and avoiding contact with sick people, Mbugua said.

Contact Emily Brill at (609) 989-5731 or ebrill@njtimes.com.

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