[ad_1]
The University of Maryland is trying to dispel fears that campus-related mold problems are linked to a virus that has caused the death of a student. First-year student Olivia Paregol, 18 years old, passed away on Sunday after having contracted adenoviruswhich usually causes respiratory diseases. The university said that five other students were suffering from the virus, but insisted that there was "no consistent connection" with the mildew. Olivia's father thinks the school could have done more.
University of Maryland rookie Jessica Thompson told CBS News that she and her roommate had found mold on their shoes and clothes in their dorms in August. She thinks the mushroom has finally made them sick.
Jessica Thompson said that she and her roommate had found mold on their shoes and clothes in their dorm in August.
"You can not sleep at night because the pillow is right next to the mold and you're up all night coughing," Thompson said. "We had to go home on weekends and everything would be fine at home, we would come back, we would sniff and cough, then we would have headaches."
Thompson said that they had repeatedly alerted university officials, who had eventually transferred them (along with more than 500 other students) to temporary housing while the school was working to clean up the dormitories.
"They had a dehumidifier installed, and the heat was finally turned on and the mold seemed to have dissipated, but it has been a good month and a half," she said.
According to Olivia Paregol's father, his room was also moldy. Olivia was already suffering from Crohn's disease and a weakened immune system before contracting an adenovirus, said her father several weeks after the fall semester, is complaining of respiratory problems and s & # 39; 39 is returned to the campus health center.
"That did not help the disease, I think it's a really fair statement.We do not know that there is a causal link, but that did not help them." things, "Ian Paregol said.
The University of Maryland said it learned the first case of adenovirus on Nov. 1. The school announced Tuesday that there had been six cases in total, including that of Olivia.
"I want the other kids to make sure they do not get sick, I mean … apparently, there were two sick kids when we got out, did not we?" It was the 13th I would have liked to have this information, and now there are three other sick children, "said Ian.
Dr. David McBride, head of the university's health center, said that even though they wanted to acknowledge the existence of cases on campus, they did not "want to stir up unnecessary anguish" .
"What we have done is that we have stepped up our cleanup efforts, that we are on alert here and that we are working to be diligent in following up cases where students are ill so to make sure they do not deteriorate. " "Said McBride.
The University of Maryland said state officials and local health departments were investigating the epidemic on campus and that, according to the CDC, mold could cause respiratory symptoms, including wheezing and a nose stuffy. The adenovirus began to spread in a New Jersey health center last month. Eleven children died in this epidemic.
