Humber College hit by unknown illness as 77 students report vomiting, abdominal pain

Humber College officials are working with Toronto Public Health to determine the source of a “flu-like” illness that affected 77 students at its North Campus residence on Thursday.

School officials said around 30 students were taken to hospital last night with symptoms ranging from vomiting to abdominal pain.

Paramedics were called to the college, located near Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West in Etobicoke, at 9:40 p.m. They treated a number of patients at the scene.

The students who were hospitalized have since been released. A number of staff members at the residence also got sick, the college said.

A Humber student told Global News some of her friends suffered symptoms after eating at the school’s cafeteria.

“I know one girl, the night before, she was fine. I had talked to her and yesterday she was very ill,” Humber College student Alexa Morgan said. “All the kids had food at the cafeteria the night before, in the residence.”

Despite reports some of the students fell ill from eating campus food, the school said the cafeteria remains open.

“We’re working with our campus food service partners to ensure that we are examining, investigating and addressing any issues that might be at play here,” dean of students at Humber College, Jen McMillen, told reporters on Friday.

“We are making sure the right folks are involved, health inspectors and all those people who have the expertise to advise us of any concerns.”

Humber College sent an email out to students Thursday night advising them that there has been an increase of a flu-like illness circulating on campus during the past week.

“We have seen an increase in the number of students reporting flu-like symptoms at Humber College,” said a letter obtained by Global News.

Officials advised students to take extra health precautions such as keeping hands clean, limit social contact if sick and keeping common surface areas clean.

The school said no classes have been cancelled and campus services are running as normal on Friday.