Dozens of LIU students sick with stomach bug

A stomach bug outbreak on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University has sickened more than 40 students - sending half of them to the hospital Wednesday night, health officials said.

An investigation is ongoing and no official cause has been determined, Nassau County Health Department spokeswoman Mary Ellen Laurain said Thursday.

"We are still awaiting laboratory results, which could take a number of days," Laurain said.

Students reported diarrhea and vomiting and were treated and released from hospitals.

Campus doctors say they believe the students had the norovirus, a common and highly contagious viral infection. Often called the stomach flu, the illness is unrelated to the influenza virus.

Laurain said a health provider alerted the county health department to the illnesses, but would not say who that was.

Officials at the Brookville college say the sickened students did not appear to have eaten at the same place or have the same food, and there was no evidence of food poisoning. Additional medical staff are on hand at the campus health center should more students or faculty require treatment.Students returned to campus this week from winter break. The sick students came from all over campus; no single residence hall was affected, said William Milford, director of the student health center.

Adama Toure, 19, a sophomore said she started feeling nauseated Thursday morning.

"I thought I was the only one. I had no idea there were so many people with this," Toure said as she left the campus infirmary to go back to her room to sleep.

State health department officials said they were not aware of other clusters on Long Island.

Students or others on campus who are affected can call 516-299-2020 or 516-299-2345.

The school has 8,700 students and 320 faculty members, according to its website.