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CLASSES CANCELED: No Class for Ursinus Until Monday

The number of students who've suffered a stomach infection climbed to 153

Ursinus College has canceled classes for the remainder of Thursday and Friday after a stomach infection sickened more than 150 students, staff and faculty at the Pennsylvania school.

The decision was made "out of an abundance of caution," according to a school statement sent to students, faculty and staff on Thursday. [[368517201, C]]

The outbreak began Tuesday after dinnertime, when students started exhibiting symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. More than 30 people were transported to Einstein Medical Center and Phoenixville Hospital as the school worked with the Montgomery County Health Department to identify the illness. [[368529741, C]]

"Ursinus is actively investigating the potential cause of this illness to determine whether it is food-borne or transmitted by person-to-person contact," the college said Wednesday in a statement.

Most of the students are already recovering, according to another statement Thursday. And Wismer Dining Hall was set to reopen Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. after the MCHD completed its inspection, the school later announced.[[368500551, C]]

“The increase in the number of people experiencing symptoms between last night (Wednesday) and today is not surprising, given the incubation period typical for gastrointestinal illnesses,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Interim Medical Director of the Montgomery County Health Department. “Students or staff who have experienced symptoms may call the Health Department at 610-278-5117 to share information to aid in the investigation,” Arkoosh said in a statement provided by the school.

The college will remain open and provide essential services to students. As a precaution, dining halls are currently shut down, the school said. Wawa, Wegmans and other local eateries stepped in to provide alternate food options for students and the college planned to let student know about other dinner options Thursday afternoon.

All registered social events and other activities are also postponed for the weekend.

The Wellness Center is open and students can get help by dialing x3100.[[368517061, C]]

At one point Thursday, the college reported more than 180 people in the Ursinus community had been sickened, but said later some had been double counted.

Regular classes will resume Monday.

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