A North Carolina university has had to postpone their sorority rush week at the last minute after an apparent outbreak of norovirus.
Health officials at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have reported an apparent outbreak of the ‘vomiting bug’ – typically triggered by poor hygiene or food bacteria – throughout the fraternity and sorority communities on campus.
As a result, the Panhellenic Council has been forced to postpone sorority recruitment by at least two days.
The events were supposed to start on Thursday evening, but have been postponed until Saturday at the earliest, leaving hundreds of teenage girls in flux.
Health officials at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have reported an apparent outbreak of the ‘vomiting bug’ throughout the fraternity and sorority communities on campus. Pictured new college students line up outside the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house during one of the rounds of recruitment in 2015
‘Please go to Campus Health Immediately if you are showing any symptoms,’ the Panhellenic Council said in an email announcing the decision, according to WRAL. Girls are pictured lining up outside the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house in 2015
‘Please go to Campus Health immediately if you are showing any symptoms,’ the Panhellenic Council said in an email announcing the decision, according to WRAL.
Sororities made the decision after a recommendation from campus health and the Orange County Health Department.
‘It’s a little scary,’ UNC sophomore Morgan Waters told WRAL.
‘It seems like not a fun thing to be happening, especially on this crazy busy week.
‘But I think it’s a good idea [to postpone]. There’s a lot of social interaction, so it’s probably a good idea to limit it.’
UNC Campus Health says it has treated a ‘number of students for gastro-related symptoms that resemble the norovirus.’
Norovirus is highly contagious and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps.
It’s a little scary. It seems like not a fun thing to be happening, especially on this crazy busy week
UNC sophomore Morgan Waters
It spreads easily through food and drink and can have a serious impact on people health, the CDC says.
The clinic has collected lab samples and is awaiting results, which could take up to 24 hours.
So far no cases have been confirmed.
Sorority rush is a five-day process which, at UNC, takes place over labor day weekend.
The first two days of rush, or ’round one’, are meant as a meet and greet between each of the sorority houses and the girls who wish to join one of them.
Sororities made the decision after a recommendation from campus health and the Orange County Health Department. Chi Omega sorority sisters are pictured speaking to potential new members during the 2015 rush period
Sorority rush is a five-day process which, at UNC, takes place over labor day weekend. Pictured a sorority girl shouts at girls who are waiting to go inside Kappa Kappa Gamma during 2015 rush at UNC
UNC Campus Health says it has treated a ‘number of students for gastro-related symptoms that resemble the norovirus’. Pictured are Kappa Delta Sorority sisters in 2015
In each subsequent round, the girls are meant to connect on a deeper level with the sorority sisters to determine which house is the right one for them.
The second, third, and fourth round generally involve skits, philanthropy presentations, and get-to-know-you conversations between sisters and potential new members.
The Panhellenic Council describes itself as ‘the largest women’s organization on campus.’
According to the group’s Facebook page, ‘The Council promotes excellence in academics, community and campus involvement, and sisterhood.
‘The bond of sisterhood is a special relationship that all sorority women share in their individual sororities and together as a Panhellenic community’