A highly contagious gastrointestinal virus has sickened another 70 students at the University of Southern California (USC), bringing the total number of sick students to 200, university officials said on Monday.

Students who are not feeling well should avoid socializing and take precautions to reduce the chance of infecting other students, USC officials said.

To avoid contracting the virus, staff and students were asked to frequently wash their hands, use hand sanitizer gels or wipes, and refrain from sharing work stations, food and beverages.

Symptoms of the virus include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach-cramping, and last about one to two days and can be managed with rest and fluids, USC officials said.

The restrooms and common areas of residence halls have been thoroughly cleaned, and USC officials were providing sanitation measures to university-owned housing.

Campus offices and classes are operating as usual. Although school officials stopped short of recommending a full-scale quarantine, they asked anyone on campus with symptoms of the virus to report to the USC.

As news of the sickness first spread last Saturday, an e-mail was sent to USC students that said the virus was being spread at the "Everybody's Kitchen" cafeteria on campus.

"We have learned that this is a virus that has no food component, and the students who got sick had eaten all over on and off the campus," USC spokesman James Grant said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)