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Preliminary data indicates that there is an increased number of norovirus cases in 2025 than the five-year historical average from 2019 to 2023, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in an email to OTR.
The PHAC email explained that they could not release any preliminary data officially as they must first be validated by provincial and territorial authorities.
“If you have a respiratory infection and an enteric infection, please stay at home…arrange something for a couple of days until you no longer have symptoms,” said Timothy Sly, an epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus for the Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
“Unlike COVID-19, Norovirus is not airborne and can transmit from one another just by touching a door handle,” he adds.
Norovirus, similar to the stomach flu, is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and fever. Though anyone can catch it, health officials say these viruses travel rapidly in crowded spaces, making universities a hot spot.
In an email from TMU’s central communications, they confirmed that there are no officially reported cases of norovirus on campus, but the university is taking precautions to avoid a similar situation as Guelph University.
The email also states that standard sanitation in the bathrooms, halls, and dormitories is being followed, and the university advises students and staff to stay home if they are feeling unwell.
Unlike the University of Toronto, which has posted an explainer about norovirus on its website as of Jan. 21, a search of the TMU website yields no results guiding their students or staff about the outbreak. The University of Waterloo and Carleton University have similar FAQ pages about norovirus.
For one student in particular, TMU is not doing enough to spread awareness about norovirus.
“We’re almost reaching midterms now, it’s flu season, people are getting COVID and now norovirus…yet TMU isn’t really saying anything about how to stay safe or restricting large gatherings,” said Huma Abrar, a fourth-year TMU student.
“We shouldn’t wait until the first reported case on campus to take action. It’ll be too late…we should be taking the right steps now,” she adds.
According to the City of Toronto’s norovirus fact sheet, norovirus is found in the stool and vomit of a person sick with the virus. Symptoms usually appear within ten hours but can develop up to two days after exposure to the virus. Infected individuals typically recover in two to three days without serious or long-term health effects.
Frequent washing of the hands, sanitizing high-touch surfaces, and avoiding sharing foods and drinks, can curb the number of cases of norovirus according to this same fact sheet.
Reporter for On The Record
