 "Photo: Courtesy of MCT Campus")
It’s September and so begins another flu season, but with the H1N1 virus (incorrectly labeled ‘swine flu’) coming into focus many people are beginning to take notice. “This is going to be an earlier and longer flu season than usual,” said UNC Charlotte’s medical director, Dr. Robert Jones.
As of last Thursday, 58 cases were reported on UNC Charlotte’s campus. The cause for concern stems from the demographic for swine flu infection, which is between 6 months and 24 years of age. Most college student’s fall into this category and UNC Charlotte is taking steps in preventing an outbreak. At the beginning of the month, the Student Health Center emailed newsletters to every student and faculty member to help bring awareness to the influenza that has affected more then 21,000 university students nationally. Only 37 of those students would need hospitalization. “We want people to be educated.” Said Jones, “We can litigate the impact of this illness on the campus community the more educated people are, and the more proactive [health officials] are.
While symptoms include fever, chills, congestion, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, and body ache, Dr. Jones stressed, ‘We don’t need everyone running down to the Student Health Center the first time they get a sore throat.” He recommends monitoring ones symptoms for two to three days and if symptoms are still lingering, or worse, then call the health center for an appointment. A new system that began last week from the health department is the follow-up email. Four days after a student has visited the heath center, an email is sent to confirm if the illness is getting better or worse.
The best way to prevent infection is the flu shot. The seasonal flu shot will be available for students the first week of October while the H1N1 shot should available the third week of October. Students will receive an e-mail with instructions for vaccination procedure once these vaccines arrive.
However, emphasis on prevention and awareness began in early August for the health center. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the UNC Charlotte health officials began working closely with faculty, housing and dining personnel.
Health officials began working with Housing and Residence Life before students came back to campus. The plan at hand is for students, who live within driving distance of the university, to remain at home for about three days. For residential students, self-isolation is required. Even though the CDC suggests, “isolation housing,” at this time Charlotte’s campus is at full capacity. Therefore, students are encouraged to cut themselves off from the outside world, with the exception of a “flu-buddy,” to bring notes from class, as well as food.
Dining Services does its part by creating a three-day food box. This box contains food such as soup, water, ginger ale, fruit and crackers. Students pay for this just as they would buy any other food on campus, using their declining balance, cash, debit card, etc. The sick student can sign-up their “flu-buddy” to pick up the three day box, so that no other human contact is made.
The CDC advises that the school review and revise policies such as students absenteeism polices and sick leave policies for faculty and staff. UNC Charlotte’s health officials have approached the Dean of Students Office, asking faculty to be more flexible and accommodative.
Students, who have been in contact with the student health center and/or have been diagnosed with H1N1, need to contact the Dean of Students Office. They will then contact the student’s professors, however, the department also recommend students to personally be in contact with their professors as well.
Since the flu virus is mainly spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing, thorough cleansing is highly recommended. This consists of continuously washing hands, having sanitizer available, as well as thoroughly cleaning personal space and living area. While university maintenance increases their cleaning during this time, by carefully and continuously cleaning doorknobs and desks, it is the student’s responsibility to look after their dorm area, especially if a roommate has recently been sick.
For more information on H1N1, visit the schools website and click on the new button, H1N1 flu update, located in the middle of the homepage. This provides all the letters that have been sent out to students, parents, and faculty, as well as general information regarding the illness.
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