H1N1 Makes its way to FSU
Lunden Gillespie
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News
As the world is facing the threat of the H1N1 virus, Frostburg State University is not exempt from the virus' path.
Here at FSU, as of October 29th, there have been 82 cases of influenza-like illnesses, most of which have been in the last 2-3 weeks. Only 9 of those were confirmed to be H1N1 according to Mary Tola, Director of Brady Health.
Due to Maryland State Health Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, The Brady Health Center isn't testing much for the virus at this point. Testing is mainly done on hospitalized or more seriously ill patients as of now.
"Students who present flu like illness to the health center are evaluated and treated according to recommended guidelines," added Tola.
When the vaccine for the virus became available, the number of people who expressed interest in receiving it was somewhat overwhelming. The CDC has recommended that some groups be able to receive the vaccine before others.
The concern of whether or not there was an adequate supply of the vaccination also was a topic of discussion as people stood in long lines to receive the vaccine and some were turned away when quantities of the vaccine ran out.
Anne Schuchat, on behalf of the CDC, released in a press release October 29th that, "There are 24.8 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine that are available for the states to order."
Dana Severance, Director of Residence Life, urges students to help stop the spread of the virus by washing their hands frequently, and covering their coughs and sneezes so that others do not get infected.
Tola also added that the most important thing for ill students to do is to say home, and rest, take fluids, use non-Aspirin containing medicine to reduce fever and not return to class until they have had no fever for 24 hours.
As far as students on campus that are affected, Severance explained that if a student contracts the flu, they are encouraged to go home for the 3-5 days that the virus takes to run its course…if a student does not wish to go home or to self-isolate by moving for a few days to Edgewood Commons. There the university has a few designated rooms in the traditional residence halls where the student's roommate may choose to move temporarily, until the ill student is no longer contagious.
FSU is taking the necessary steps to inform the student body of how the H1N1 virus is finding its way onto this campus and more importantly the students are being told how they can go about combating the virus.
"[H1N1]is like any other health discrepancy, it wouldn't be that much of a problem if people took care of themselves…the media has a lot to do with people's fears," said junior Donte Waller.
Here at FSU, as of October 29th, there have been 82 cases of influenza-like illnesses, most of which have been in the last 2-3 weeks. Only 9 of those were confirmed to be H1N1 according to Mary Tola, Director of Brady Health.
Due to Maryland State Health Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, The Brady Health Center isn't testing much for the virus at this point. Testing is mainly done on hospitalized or more seriously ill patients as of now.
"Students who present flu like illness to the health center are evaluated and treated according to recommended guidelines," added Tola.
When the vaccine for the virus became available, the number of people who expressed interest in receiving it was somewhat overwhelming. The CDC has recommended that some groups be able to receive the vaccine before others.
The concern of whether or not there was an adequate supply of the vaccination also was a topic of discussion as people stood in long lines to receive the vaccine and some were turned away when quantities of the vaccine ran out.
Anne Schuchat, on behalf of the CDC, released in a press release October 29th that, "There are 24.8 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine that are available for the states to order."
Dana Severance, Director of Residence Life, urges students to help stop the spread of the virus by washing their hands frequently, and covering their coughs and sneezes so that others do not get infected.
Tola also added that the most important thing for ill students to do is to say home, and rest, take fluids, use non-Aspirin containing medicine to reduce fever and not return to class until they have had no fever for 24 hours.
As far as students on campus that are affected, Severance explained that if a student contracts the flu, they are encouraged to go home for the 3-5 days that the virus takes to run its course…if a student does not wish to go home or to self-isolate by moving for a few days to Edgewood Commons. There the university has a few designated rooms in the traditional residence halls where the student's roommate may choose to move temporarily, until the ill student is no longer contagious.
FSU is taking the necessary steps to inform the student body of how the H1N1 virus is finding its way onto this campus and more importantly the students are being told how they can go about combating the virus.
"[H1N1]is like any other health discrepancy, it wouldn't be that much of a problem if people took care of themselves…the media has a lot to do with people's fears," said junior Donte Waller.
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