Tweet
Naval Academy moves to contain sick midshipman
Academy moves to contain sick mids
<!-- STORY BYLINE -->Concerns about H1N1 persist
By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer
<!-- STORY PUBLICATION DATE -->Published 09/26/09
<!-- STORY LEAD (AT TOP IF LENGTHY ENOUGH) -->The number of midshipmen with flulike symptoms at the Naval Academy has risen significantly this week, prompting officials to take action to quarantine sick mids in light of ongoing concerns about the spread of swine flu.
<!-- LEFT COLUMN --><!-- PHOTO --><!-- STORY ATTACHED VIDEO --><!-- STORY ATTACHED SLIDESHOW --><!-- 300x250 Ad Zone -->
<!-- end story_leftcol_wrapper --><!-- STORY LEAD (WITH BODY TEXT IF NOT LENGTHY ENOUGH) --><!-- STORY TEXT -->As of yesterday morning, 71 midshipmen were in an isolation area within Bancroft Hall after displaying signs of the flu. Also, Thursday night, five midshipmen suffering from symptoms of an upper-respiratory infection were taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and Anne Arundel Medical Center. They were treated and released.
Academy officials said none of the current cases have yet been positively identified as the swine flu, though they are awaiting test results. Swine flu, also known as H1N1, first hit the academy in May, when a faculty member was diagnosed with it. Since then, there have been seven confirmed cases of the illness there, said Deborah Goode, media relations director.
Since the beginning of the semester, 153 midshipmen have been placed in the isolation area to prevent the spread of the illness, officials said. But the situation grew a little more serious this week when 38 mids showed up at the brigade medical unit seeking treatment for flulike symptoms.
By Tuesday afternoon, the academy had quarantined 55 mids, Commandant Capt. Matthew L. Klunder said in a letter to "family and friends of midshipmen" advising them of the increasing number of sick students. He mentioned that the academy expects to get the H1N1 vaccine sometime in October and plans to "vaccinate all our personnel in a quick and efficient manner."
"(The academy's senior staff and health clinic) are making every effort to care for our affected midshipmen and prevent the spread of flu through preventative measures, proactive surveillance, and isolation of midshipmen that exhibit flu-like symptoms," Klunder wrote in the letter.
"While the number of midshipmen who have been identified as having flu-related symptoms has increased in recent days, I can assure you that this number has not spread out of control mainly due to the strong precautionary measures implemented throughout the brigade,"
he wrote. "As an important note, the H1N1 test results are generally not available for a number of days, usually after the flu has run its course through an individual. Therefore, none of the current cases have been positively identified yet as H1N1 flu.
"
Because of the threat of H1N1, health officials have advised everyone to get a seasonal flu shot and a vaccination against H1N1 once it becomes available. All 4,400 midshipmen received their seasonal flu immunization earlier this month, officials said.
The swine flu initially hit Maryland in April, with three suspected cases in Anne Arundel County. Since then, there have been 166 cases statewide - including more than 30 in the county - and seven deaths, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Aside from flu symptoms, warning signs of H1N1 include pain in the chest or abdomen and shortness of breath in adults, as well as fever with a rash and bluish skin color in children.
Isolation procedure
The academy has a protocol in which midshipmen are observed daily at morning formation for flulike symptoms. Anyone who is ill is sent to the brigade medical unit for treatment. The ill midshipmen are placed in an isolation ward converted from an existing athletic facility in Bancroft Hall. There, they have bathrooms and showers, meals provided by King Hall, laundry and bed linen services.
The isolated midshipmen will stay there until the medical staff determines they are no longer at risk of infecting others, likely three to four days.
The staff also closely monitors anyone who has been in close contact with the infected mids, and the midshipmen are constantly receiving information about seasonal and H1N1 influenza prevention, Goode said.
"Naval Academy medical professionals continue to pro-actively educate and train the Brigade of Midshipmen and staff about both seasonal (and) H1N1 influenza prevention and detection through the use of electronic media, posted signs and announcements during regular military formations," Goode wrote in an e-mail.
"We are also performing daily 'active surveillance' where midshipmen are questioned about specific flu symptoms. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to the brigade medical unit for follow-on assessment and treatment."
The six-week academic reserve period begins next week, and Klunder said the staff is trying to ensure the isolation period doesn't impact the ill students' work.
"I personally met with the faculty senate today to ensure that each sick midshipman is afforded the opportunity to work out a revised program with their professors to address any classwork or exams they may have missed due to isolation requirements," Klunder wrote in his letter to families. "Again, we will do everything we can to promote a smooth return to the classrooms."
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...mids.html?ne=1
<!-- STORY BYLINE -->Concerns about H1N1 persist
By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer
<!-- STORY PUBLICATION DATE -->Published 09/26/09
<!-- STORY LEAD (AT TOP IF LENGTHY ENOUGH) -->The number of midshipmen with flulike symptoms at the Naval Academy has risen significantly this week, prompting officials to take action to quarantine sick mids in light of ongoing concerns about the spread of swine flu.
<!-- LEFT COLUMN --><!-- PHOTO --><!-- STORY ATTACHED VIDEO --><!-- STORY ATTACHED SLIDESHOW --><!-- 300x250 Ad Zone -->
<!-- end story_leftcol_wrapper --><!-- STORY LEAD (WITH BODY TEXT IF NOT LENGTHY ENOUGH) --><!-- STORY TEXT -->As of yesterday morning, 71 midshipmen were in an isolation area within Bancroft Hall after displaying signs of the flu. Also, Thursday night, five midshipmen suffering from symptoms of an upper-respiratory infection were taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and Anne Arundel Medical Center. They were treated and released.
Academy officials said none of the current cases have yet been positively identified as the swine flu, though they are awaiting test results. Swine flu, also known as H1N1, first hit the academy in May, when a faculty member was diagnosed with it. Since then, there have been seven confirmed cases of the illness there, said Deborah Goode, media relations director.
Since the beginning of the semester, 153 midshipmen have been placed in the isolation area to prevent the spread of the illness, officials said. But the situation grew a little more serious this week when 38 mids showed up at the brigade medical unit seeking treatment for flulike symptoms.
By Tuesday afternoon, the academy had quarantined 55 mids, Commandant Capt. Matthew L. Klunder said in a letter to "family and friends of midshipmen" advising them of the increasing number of sick students. He mentioned that the academy expects to get the H1N1 vaccine sometime in October and plans to "vaccinate all our personnel in a quick and efficient manner."
"(The academy's senior staff and health clinic) are making every effort to care for our affected midshipmen and prevent the spread of flu through preventative measures, proactive surveillance, and isolation of midshipmen that exhibit flu-like symptoms," Klunder wrote in the letter.
"While the number of midshipmen who have been identified as having flu-related symptoms has increased in recent days, I can assure you that this number has not spread out of control mainly due to the strong precautionary measures implemented throughout the brigade,"
he wrote. "As an important note, the H1N1 test results are generally not available for a number of days, usually after the flu has run its course through an individual. Therefore, none of the current cases have been positively identified yet as H1N1 flu."Because of the threat of H1N1, health officials have advised everyone to get a seasonal flu shot and a vaccination against H1N1 once it becomes available. All 4,400 midshipmen received their seasonal flu immunization earlier this month, officials said.
The swine flu initially hit Maryland in April, with three suspected cases in Anne Arundel County. Since then, there have been 166 cases statewide - including more than 30 in the county - and seven deaths, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Aside from flu symptoms, warning signs of H1N1 include pain in the chest or abdomen and shortness of breath in adults, as well as fever with a rash and bluish skin color in children.
Isolation procedure
The academy has a protocol in which midshipmen are observed daily at morning formation for flulike symptoms. Anyone who is ill is sent to the brigade medical unit for treatment. The ill midshipmen are placed in an isolation ward converted from an existing athletic facility in Bancroft Hall. There, they have bathrooms and showers, meals provided by King Hall, laundry and bed linen services.
The isolated midshipmen will stay there until the medical staff determines they are no longer at risk of infecting others, likely three to four days.
The staff also closely monitors anyone who has been in close contact with the infected mids, and the midshipmen are constantly receiving information about seasonal and H1N1 influenza prevention, Goode said."Naval Academy medical professionals continue to pro-actively educate and train the Brigade of Midshipmen and staff about both seasonal (and) H1N1 influenza prevention and detection through the use of electronic media, posted signs and announcements during regular military formations," Goode wrote in an e-mail.
"We are also performing daily 'active surveillance' where midshipmen are questioned about specific flu symptoms. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to the brigade medical unit for follow-on assessment and treatment."
The six-week academic reserve period begins next week, and Klunder said the staff is trying to ensure the isolation period doesn't impact the ill students' work.
"I personally met with the faculty senate today to ensure that each sick midshipman is afforded the opportunity to work out a revised program with their professors to address any classwork or exams they may have missed due to isolation requirements," Klunder wrote in his letter to families. "Again, we will do everything we can to promote a smooth return to the classrooms."
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...mids.html?ne=1
