Campus cafeterias take precautions against Shaw Hall virus

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At The Gallery in Snyder-Phillips Hall, almost everything had to be handed to Munaz Muntasir by a cafeteria employee.

“They give you forks with a piece of napkin and salt and pepper packs,” said Muntasir, a biochemistry and molecular biology freshman. “I had to ask for a bowl. But I could get my own frozen yogurt.”

In response to a virus that sickened about 30 MSU students in Shaw Hall last week, cafeteria workers have been handing out entrées, pouring cereal for students and distributing eating utensils, among other procedures, to keep students from touching common areas in cafeterias.

The sickened MSU students were hospitalized last week and diagnosed with norovirus, a contagious stomach virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Although health officials have said the virus likely is not food-borne, precautions are being taken to stop its spread.

“We decided because of the infectious nature of this virus to limit the number of people who touch common spaces, just because of the issue of touching something when you’re starting to get sick and don’t know you’re getting sick,” MSU University Physician Beth Alexander said.

After students were hospitalized starting Wednesday morning, Shaw Hall’s cafeteria was closed as employees disinfected the area. University spokesman Jason Cody said it is expected to reopen Monday.

Computer science freshman Andrew Matteson said he understands the reasons for the changes, but finds them extreme.

“It’s overkill right now,” Matteson said. “I thought they said it’s not the food that’s the problem, so I don’t know why they’re doing this.”

Astrophysics sophomore Samantha Myers said precautions taken at West Circle cafeterias are less strict than those at Snyder-Phillips’ cafeteria.

“(In West Circle), you can’t get your own salads anymore and you can’t get your own fruit,” Myers said. “They still have salt and pepper and napkins on the tables. You can only get your own beverages and silverware and napkins.”

The 30-plus students hospitalized last week were released by Friday evening and none were ever in serious condition, Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital spokeswoman Rose Tantraphol said.

Alexander, who has been working with the Ingham County Health Department throughout its investigation of the virus, said a conclusion about the virus’ source likely will be available Tuesday or Wednesday.

Investigators still are pouring over interviews with those sickened to find links to the virus, Alexander said.

“It’s really important to look at the data objectively and carefully,” Alexander said. “There may never be an answer of how it first got into Shaw Hall.”

Staff writer Brittany Shammas contributed to this report.

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