2010's swine flu still on horizon
Marissa Philipp
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
Is H1N1 gone for good?
No, but it is for now at Hillsdale College. No cases have been reported yet in 2010 said Rich Péwé, vice president of administration.
"We expect to get another wave of it this semester," Péwé said.
But administrators said the college is prepared.
"We are ready for it," Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said.
They both said that all the same precautions used last semester are still being taken this semester.
Some of these precautions include keeping the faculty, staff and students well-informed of the current situation concerning the virus and any precautions that need to be taken to avoid contact with it.
Petersen said because the college has a "strong cooperative community" that is willing to be flexible, it is able to ensure everyone's safety.
For example, he explained that all teachers as well as students must consider going to class a priority, but they must also respect the health of other students in the class if a student is sick.
Péwé said the faculty is well aware of the standards for missing work due to the virus. Faculty members may stay home if their children's schools have closed because of the virus.
Rebekah Dell, student activities director, said she has had masks stocked in her office for those who would like to use them. No one has asked since the beginning of the year.
The college still encourages students and teachers alike to wash their hands, use the antibacterial machines around campus and get the vaccine if they have not already.
Ambler Health Center has free vaccines available.
The Health Center's campus-wide e-mail encouraged everyone to be vaccinated sooner rather than later, because it takes up to two weeks to become immune.
The e-mail also said they have shots as well as the intranasal version of the vaccine.
Flu season in the Midwest lasts through April, so there is still time for another surge of the virus.
Péwé said this is because "during the winter people are outside less," and with "less fresh air, germs are spread more easily."
In addition, Péwé said students should look and compare the American flu season to the flu season of countries in the southern hemisphere, such as Australia, to try to predict our future situation. Australia had its surge in July and August, the equivalent of January and February in the northern hemisphere.
Péwé said we should "enjoy the good period" while it lasts.
No, but it is for now at Hillsdale College. No cases have been reported yet in 2010 said Rich Péwé, vice president of administration.
"We expect to get another wave of it this semester," Péwé said.
But administrators said the college is prepared.
"We are ready for it," Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said.
They both said that all the same precautions used last semester are still being taken this semester.
Some of these precautions include keeping the faculty, staff and students well-informed of the current situation concerning the virus and any precautions that need to be taken to avoid contact with it.
Petersen said because the college has a "strong cooperative community" that is willing to be flexible, it is able to ensure everyone's safety.
For example, he explained that all teachers as well as students must consider going to class a priority, but they must also respect the health of other students in the class if a student is sick.
Péwé said the faculty is well aware of the standards for missing work due to the virus. Faculty members may stay home if their children's schools have closed because of the virus.
Rebekah Dell, student activities director, said she has had masks stocked in her office for those who would like to use them. No one has asked since the beginning of the year.
The college still encourages students and teachers alike to wash their hands, use the antibacterial machines around campus and get the vaccine if they have not already.
Ambler Health Center has free vaccines available.
The Health Center's campus-wide e-mail encouraged everyone to be vaccinated sooner rather than later, because it takes up to two weeks to become immune.
The e-mail also said they have shots as well as the intranasal version of the vaccine.
Flu season in the Midwest lasts through April, so there is still time for another surge of the virus.
Péwé said this is because "during the winter people are outside less," and with "less fresh air, germs are spread more easily."
In addition, Péwé said students should look and compare the American flu season to the flu season of countries in the southern hemisphere, such as Australia, to try to predict our future situation. Australia had its surge in July and August, the equivalent of January and February in the northern hemisphere.
Péwé said we should "enjoy the good period" while it lasts.
Be the first to comment on this story