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Freshman Olivia Paregol (center) with her parents, Ian Paregol (left) and Meg Paregol (right). The University of Maryland student died on November 18 after contracting an adenovirus (Photo: Ian Paregol).
By Arya Hodjat and Leah Brennan
Senior executives
University of Maryland President Wallace Loh defended the University Health Center Thursday morning after the Washington Post announced that the center had not informed rookie Olivia Paregol's family of the presence an epidemic of adenovirus before hospitalization.
"We are convinced that our actions last fall were appropriate and timely. And, we continue to improve our homes to ensure the well-being of current and future students, "Loh wrote.
Paregol, specialist in criminology and criminal justice, died Nov. 18 from a complication of the virus. The director of the health center, David McBride, was informed for the first time of the presence of the virus on the campus of this university on November 1, according to the Post.
[Read more: “A light wherever she went”: Olivia Paregol remembered for her fun-loving nature]
Paregol 's family did not know that the virus was spreading on campus until November 13, when his father, Ian Paregol, called McBride while his daughter' s condition worsened. Johns Hopkins hospital intensive care unit, reported the Post.
Until then, the doctors had treated her with antibiotics, as if she had bacterial pneumonia – but when Ian told McBride that she could be suffering from adenovirus, the doctors had to change of track, reported the post office. They started treating her with antiviral medication, but her condition did not improve. She died five days later.
McBride did not inform the campus infectious disease management committee when he discovered the virus on campus for the first time because it was "not currently a reportable disease." . . we were more focused on what we knew at the time, "he said in the mail. When medical staff discover the virus, it is not required by law to inform health officials or the public, according to the Post Office.
[Read more: “She loved learning so much”: Memorial scholarship honors Olivia Paregol’s curiosity]
"The actions we have undertaken are in line with CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] advice on adenovirus outbreaks and were consistent with the University's strong commitment to the health and safety of our students, "McBride told the Post.
Paregol lived in Elkton Hall, one of the dormitories most affected by a mildew epidemic on the entire campus during the fall semester.
Although mold does not cause adenovirus, it can "cause irritation of the airways and make individuals more susceptible to viral infections in general," according to the health center's website. The university denied a connection between the two.
In the months following Paregol's death, the university cleaned up the entire campus during the school holidays to fight adenoviruses. Approximately 600 rooms chose not to clean approximately 4,600 rooms in dormitories and apartments on campus.
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