Investigators search for cause that led 36 students to hospital

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Mystery illness strikes Radford
Investigators search for cause that led 36 students to hospital
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192752640&path=!news&s=1045855934842​

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>BY REX BOWMAN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
</TD><TD align=right>Jan 20, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


<!-- NO VIDEO CHILDREN -->Three dozen Radford University students were treated at a local hospital yesterday after a mysterious illness brought on stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.

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School spokesman Rob Tucker said three of the students were admitted to the Carilion New River Valley Medical Center for evaluation. The others were released after treatment.

The New River Valley Health District is trying to find the cause of the illness and could have results back from a Roanoke laboratory as early as today.

Bobby Parker, spokesman for the health district, said investigators don't know yet if the sickness is a foodborne illness or due to surface contaminants or a norovirus.

In the meantime, as a precaution, the school has closed two of the four restaurants in the campus' Dalton Hall food court.

Tucker said investigators interviewed six students and determined that a significant number of them had eaten at the two restaurants in the past two days.

The school also posted a note on its Web site notifying students and parents of the illness and encouraging students with symptoms to report to the school health center.

Parker said sick students started showing up at the hospital Thursday night. Yesterday's first case of sickness was reported at 2 a.m., and by noon 18 students had been treated at the hospital, Tucker said.

The number doubled to at least three dozen by yesterday evening, Parker said.
The health district is urging students to wash their hands and follow standard hygienic practices, Parker said, adding that the illness does not seem to be overly debilitating. "It's not as serious as one might imagine."