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Flu Season Hits SMU Hard (Texas)

H

HenryN

Retired
Flu Season Hits SMU Hard

By Lindsay Wilcox
NBCDFW.com
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Students on the Southern Methodis University campus in Dallas have heard the news. About 60 students have been diagnosed the flu within the last week, and the campus is trying to warn others.

"I've heard about it on signs and in the cafeteria too," said SMU student Kristel Simons.

For Matthew Helfrich, it may be too late. "Lot of congestion, deep, deep, dry cough. Those are the major things, but headaches and those sorts of things," Helfrich said of his symptoms.

The outbreak isn't isolated to the university.

PrimaCare Medical Center in Lakewood says the number of cases they're seeing has skyrocketed in the last week.

"We were seeing one or two a day a week or so ago, now we're seeing three, four or five per shift," said Dr. Robert Speegle.

Many have a strain of flu that is resistant to Tamiflu, the popular anti-viral drug often used to treat the illness.

Doctors are prescribing an alternative but say there is a shortage of it in the metroplex.

"They stopped making it some time back, because Tamiflu was the only one they recommended. Now the government is saying, 'make it quick,'" said Speegle.

For those who can't get the medication, it will be a longer road to recovery than in flu seasons past.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28848530/
 
Re: Flu Season Hits SMU Hard (Texas)

During week 2, nine hospital laboratories and public health agencies across Texas reported conducting a total of 1,049 influenza tests (antigen, culture, and PCR) to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS
window_ext.gif
) sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 952 antigen detection tests that were performed, 166 were positive for influenza A/not subtyped and 41 were positive for influenza B. The positive results were reported from Bell, Bexar, Collin, Harris, Lubbock, Nueces, and Tarrant counties. Eight PCR tests positive for influenza A/not subtyped and three PCR tests positive for influenza B were reported from Bell and Tarrant counties. A total of 86 reports of culture-confirmed influenza were received for the following counties:

<TABLE class=content style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1px solid" rules=4 width="80%" align=center summary="reports of culture-confirmed influenza by county" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom bgColor=#b5bec6><TH align=middle><TT>Influenza A/H1 </TT></TH><TH align=middle><TT>Influenza A/H3 </TT></TH><TH align=middle><TT>Influenza A/not subtyped </TT></TH><TH align=middle><TT>Influenza B </TT></TH></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Brooks County </TD><TD align=middle>(none) </TD><TD align=middle>Bell County (2) </TD><TD align=middle>Bexar County (9) </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Kleberg County (2) </TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Bexar County (26) </TD><TD align=middle>Brazos County (2) </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Medina County </TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Brazos County </TD><TD align=middle>Dallas County (2) </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Coryell County </TD><TD align=middle>Harris County (3) </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Dallas County (15) </TD><TD align=middle>Kendall County </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Ellis County </TD><TD align=middle>McLennan County (2) </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Harris County (6) </TD><TD align=middle>Tarrant County </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Kendall County </TD><TD align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Madison County (2) </TD><TD align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>McLennan County (2) </TD><TD align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle></TD><TD align=middle>Williamson County (5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Re: Flu Season Hits SMU Hard (Texas)

<TABLE class="table ie7_class362 ie7_class403" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 align=center border=0><CAPTION>National and Regional Summary of Select Surveillance Components

</CAPTION><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TH class=" ie7_class405" vAlign=bottom width=85 rowSpan=2>
Region​
</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" noWrap align=middle width=300 colSpan=3>Data for current week</STRONG></TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" noWrap align=middle width=276 colSpan=5>Data cumulative for the season</TH></TR><TR vAlign=top><TH class=" ie7_class405" align=middle width=72>Out-patient ILI*</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" align=middle width=72>% positive for flu?</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" align=middle width=96>Number of jurisdictions reporting regional or widespread activity?</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" noWrap align=middle width=48>A (H1)</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" noWrap align=middle width=48>A (H3)</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" align=middle width=60>A Unsub-typed</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" noWrap align=middle width=48>B</TH><TH class=" ie7_class405" align=middle width=72>Pediatric Deaths</TH></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>Nation</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>11.5 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>7 of 51 </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>641</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>104</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>1292</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>413</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>New England</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>5.2 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>1 of 6</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>24</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>5</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>45</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>8</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>Mid-Atlantic</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>5.3 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>2 of 3</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>69</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>11</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>102</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>23</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>East North Central</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>16.8 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>0 of 5</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>59</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>7</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>24</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>18</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>West North Central</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>4.1 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>0 of 7</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>31</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>7</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>49</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>20</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>South Atlantic</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>5.3 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>2 of 9</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>54</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>7</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>192</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>113</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>East South Central</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>1.3 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>0 of 4</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>2</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>0</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>0</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>7</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>West South Central</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>13.4 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>1 of 4</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>93</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>1</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>629</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>189</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>Mountain</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>12.1 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>1 of 8</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>49</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>56</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>149</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>11</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=" ie7_class404" align=left width=85>Pacific</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>Normal</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>5.7 % </TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=96>0 of 5</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>260</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>10</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=60>102</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=48>24</TD><TD class=" ie7_class404" noWrap align=middle width=72>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Re: Flu Season Hits SMU Hard (Texas)

Flu Season On Campus

Flu season is here ? and currently SMU is seeing an outbreak, say Nancy Merrill, M.D., and Peter Davis, M.D., co-medical directors of SMU's Memorial Health Center. Students who test positive for flu are experiencing high fevers, chills and body aches.
In response to the outbreak, the Memorial Health Center is offering free flu shots on the following days in the Hughes-Trigg Commuter Lounge and Umphrey Lee Dining Hall:
Monday, January 26 ? noon-4 p.m.
Tuesday, January 27 ? 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
There will be an additional flu clinic on campus 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, January 29, in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center.
Limited supplies of FluMist vaccine are available to students at cost ($20). FluMist is a needle-free nasal spray that helps build antibodies against the influenza virus. Students who live in student housing or have been exposed to the flu virus are encouraged to consider FluMist, as this form of vaccine helps build immunity more quickly than the flu shot.
Vaccinations are also available at Dallas County Health and Human Services, 2377 N. Stemmons Fwy. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. No appointment is necessary for flu shots; call 214-819-2162 for more information.
Students may pack to-go meals for ill friends at SMU Dining Halls during regular hours. Students should bring their ill friends? Student IDs and ask for a dining hall supervisor, who will provide containers.
To keep the flu from spreading to more people, Merrill and Davis ask that faculty, staff and parents encourage flu-positive students and other campus community members to stay at home. The flu usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
Healthy adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and up to 5 days after getting sick. It is possible to give someone the flu before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.
Prevention strategies:
  • If you are sick, stay at home.
  • If you have sick friends, encourage them to stay at home.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
  • Get a flu shot.
For more information on the flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control

http://smu.edu/audience/parents/2009-january/flu-notice.aspand Prevention website.
 
Re: Flu Season Hits SMU Hard (Texas)

Influenza outbreak hits SMU students

Health Center offering free flu vaccinations through Tuesday

John Coleman, Associate News Editor, jpcolema@smu.edu


Issue date: 1/27/09 Section: News
<TABLE border=0 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width=10><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Students returning to school from winter break brought more with them than their winter clothes; they also brought the influenza virus to campus.

SMU is experiencing one of the worst flu outbreaks in years. Last week the health center treated over 60 students for the flu, and dozens more started off this week according to Health Educator Megan Knapp.

Chief Epidemiologist of the Dallas County Department of Health Wendy Chung said the flu outbreak in Dallas is not above the normal levels, but it is not uncommon to see small outbreaks on college campuses.

"On campus you have a lot of people in close quarters; people living in dorms two or three to a room can contribute to the spread of the virus relatively easily," Chung said.

To help stem the spread of the virus the Health Center has launched an active campaign to help vaccinate students. The Dallas County Department of Health has provided enough flu vaccines for the health center to give them free of charge to students through Tuesday.

Knapp said that on the first day of free vaccinations over 350 students lined up to receive their flu shot. One flu shot distribution point in the commuter lounge had the line stretching nearly into the Hughes-Trigg hallway.

The health center also has, in limited supply, the Flu Mist nasal spray. It is available for $50 and can be charged to student accounts. The nasal spray is fast acting - building immunity in 24 hours compared to the two weeks it takes normal vaccinations.

Chung said that the vaccination is the best protection an individual can get from the virus.

"The vaccination provides approximately 87 percent efficacy of prevention, and if you are in the minority of those that get the virus it lessens the severity and duration for the individual. It can take up to two weeks to build the immunity from a vaccination however," Chung said.

Other distribution points are in the Umphrey Lee building near the dining center and the health center as well. Hours of distribution are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Health Center is also encouraging students to take many preventative measures according to Knapp.

"The first step is to practice good hygiene habits," Knapp said. "Washing your hands with soap and water can go along way to preventing the flu."

Knapp added that if you are sick, covering your cough by coughing into your sleeve could prevent the spread of the virus. She said that at the first sign of the illness you should see a doctor as certain medicines started at the beginning of the virus can shorten the course of the disease.

She added that if you are sick, it would be a good idea to stay home from class to rest and prevent the further spread of the virus.

Real Food on Campus is trying to help stop the outbreak as well. The cafeteria started a program in which roommates or friends can get a "to-go" meal for sick students. The meals are available during regular dining hours, and just require the ID card of the sick student with a meal plan.

The cafeteria stressed the importance of eating while your body is attempting to heal. It asked that if you are sick, to follow your doctor's dietary recommendations.

Knapp also addressed the rumor that has been circling campus that if the outbreak affects enough students that classes will be cancelled. She said that the influenza virus is not really life threatening, and it would be "unlikely" that classes would be canceled.

http://media.www.smudailycampus.com...utbreak.Hits.Smu.Students-3598474-page2.shtml
 
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