http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/local/doc4a55c79d6539e294248357.txt
A Dickinson College summer youth program was temporarily suspended Wednesday after 47 of the 485 participants showed flu-like symptoms.
The suspension of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth program ? an early termination of the first of two sessions planned at the college this summer ? is a precautionary measure intended to prevent further spread of the viral illness, said Bill Sulon, a spokesman for the college.
CTY officials noted that flu symptoms were spreading rapidly among the students. Several of them tested positive for Influenza A and because of the high correlation with H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, CTY took immediate precautionary measures to respond as if H1N1 was present.
?The number of flu-symptomatic students escalated rapidly on July 7, when we had 32 students report to our health office,? said CTY spokesman Charles Beckman. ?Prior to that date, we?d had 15 students total since June 28 who had flu symptoms or were confirmed to have Influenza A. It had become apparent that the illness was spreading, and it was affecting the well-being of the students and distracting us from the daily running of a school.?
The program started on June 28 and was scheduled to run three weeks.
Parents notified
Only one case of H1N1 from a student tested a week ago has now been confirmed. All CTY students? parents were notified Wednesday and encouraged to pick their children up before Saturday.
?Most of the kids have been taken off campus and others have been isolated,? Beckman said.
The ill students have complained of symptoms typical of seasonal flu and none is known to be seriously ill or to have been hospitalized.
Johns Hopkins plans to hold the second session of its CTY program at Dickinson starting July 19 with a new group of students. The college is disinfecting the residence hall rooms of all CTY participants.
Beckman said the program is taking guidance from Johns Hopkins and state health officials.
The flu virus has a shelf life of about seven days, he noted, optimistic that there will be no delay or cancellation of the upcoming session.
Isolated outbreak
Only students and staffers in the CTY program exhibited symptoms of flu, and the affected students and staff are isolated in a residence hall where food is being provided, according to the college.
There are no current reports of flu among Dickinson College?s 840 employees, 60 summer-class students or individuals involved in other summer programs at the college, Sulon noted.
?It?s isolated to this group,? he said.
The college does not plan to close, but it is encouraging any employees who may develop flu symptoms to stay home.
The state Department of Health is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with college officials on a daily basis.
Symptoms
According to the agency, there have been more than 1,700 confirmed cases of H1N1 across the state and 66 probable cases.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
The treatment for H1N1 and Type A Influenza is the same ? isolation, rest, and recovery.
A Dickinson College summer youth program was temporarily suspended Wednesday after 47 of the 485 participants showed flu-like symptoms.
The suspension of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth program ? an early termination of the first of two sessions planned at the college this summer ? is a precautionary measure intended to prevent further spread of the viral illness, said Bill Sulon, a spokesman for the college.
CTY officials noted that flu symptoms were spreading rapidly among the students. Several of them tested positive for Influenza A and because of the high correlation with H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, CTY took immediate precautionary measures to respond as if H1N1 was present.
?The number of flu-symptomatic students escalated rapidly on July 7, when we had 32 students report to our health office,? said CTY spokesman Charles Beckman. ?Prior to that date, we?d had 15 students total since June 28 who had flu symptoms or were confirmed to have Influenza A. It had become apparent that the illness was spreading, and it was affecting the well-being of the students and distracting us from the daily running of a school.?
The program started on June 28 and was scheduled to run three weeks.
Parents notified
Only one case of H1N1 from a student tested a week ago has now been confirmed. All CTY students? parents were notified Wednesday and encouraged to pick their children up before Saturday.
?Most of the kids have been taken off campus and others have been isolated,? Beckman said.
The ill students have complained of symptoms typical of seasonal flu and none is known to be seriously ill or to have been hospitalized.
Johns Hopkins plans to hold the second session of its CTY program at Dickinson starting July 19 with a new group of students. The college is disinfecting the residence hall rooms of all CTY participants.
Beckman said the program is taking guidance from Johns Hopkins and state health officials.
The flu virus has a shelf life of about seven days, he noted, optimistic that there will be no delay or cancellation of the upcoming session.
Isolated outbreak
Only students and staffers in the CTY program exhibited symptoms of flu, and the affected students and staff are isolated in a residence hall where food is being provided, according to the college.
There are no current reports of flu among Dickinson College?s 840 employees, 60 summer-class students or individuals involved in other summer programs at the college, Sulon noted.
?It?s isolated to this group,? he said.
The college does not plan to close, but it is encouraging any employees who may develop flu symptoms to stay home.
The state Department of Health is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with college officials on a daily basis.
Symptoms
According to the agency, there have been more than 1,700 confirmed cases of H1N1 across the state and 66 probable cases.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
The treatment for H1N1 and Type A Influenza is the same ? isolation, rest, and recovery.