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Elkton Hall, photographed during a student move, has been the scene of serious mold problems this semester. (Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post)
Sarah Larimer
Generalist journalist covering national and last-minute news
The University of Maryland sought this week to dispel fears that adenovirus infections in school could be linked to mold exposure, saying it appeared there was "no consistent connection" between the two health problems. A U-Md. student died Sunday of a disease associated with the adenovirus.
The health center of the university posted Monday a series of frequently asked questions about adenovirus. Earlier this semester, U-Md. mold in a dormitory on the campus – a problem that forced students to temporarily relocate to hotels. One of the questions posted online was about a possible link between mold and the virus.
"Cases of adenovirus-associated disease on campus have been observed both in campus and off-campus students and in students in residences affected by mold and not," said the site. Web. "As such, it seems that there is no consistent link between mold exposure and incidents of adenovirus infection affecting UMD students."
Similarly, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that there is no link between mold and adenovirus. This virus is usually spread from one infected person to another, the CDC said. This can happen by touching or shaking hands, coughing or sneezing. It also spreads when people touch objects or surfaces on which the virus has landed, then touch their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands.
The university said Tuesday that a student had died of an adenovirus-related disease. The student, 18-year-old Olivia Paregol, was living in Elkton Hall, a dormitory on the College Park campus, where mold was discovered this year. Paregol, a freshman at the university, was from Howard County, Maryland.
On November 1, Maryland learned that a student was dealing with an adenovirus, said David McBride, director of the University Health Center, in a statement this week. University officials worked with state health departments and the Prince George County Department of Health to monitor cases since that discovery.
"The health center staff is on high alert and we have contacted the medical services in the area to raise awareness of the disease," McBride said.
McBride wrote that since the onset of the first case, five other cases of students with a "confirmed disease associated with adenovirus" have been reported. And a sample, sent to federal officials for testing, showed a strain of adenovirus that could lead to more serious health problems.
According to the statement, adenovirus-related diseases are usually treated with rest, fluids and medicines to reduce fever.
"However, vigilance is extremely important for people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or diseases that weaken your immune system or if you take medications that weaken your immune system," said M McBride in his statement.
Concerns about mold have persisted this year on the College Park Campus, where mold has been reported at Elkton Hall, which is home to more than 500 students. The problem, which occurred earlier in the semester, has worsened due to "significant rains and high humidity in our area," according to a statement from the University of l & # 39; era.
To deal with mold issues, Maryland officials hired contractors, cleaned and replaced the furniture and installed "commercial grade dehumidifiers" in the hallways. The students were temporarily relocated, a decision that the university took "for prudence".
A spokeswoman for the university said Wednesday that Elkton's cleanup was completed by mid-October.
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