Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/healthwatch/headlines/55548307.html
Updated: 11:56 AM Aug 28, 2009
Nine Cases of Swine Flu Reported at UVa.
Health officials at the University of Virginia say they've seen nine cases of the swine flu so far during the fall semester, four of which were presented on Thursday. Students and professors are now taking precautions to make sure they're not the next to catch the bug.
Posted: 1:16 AM Aug 28, 2009
Reporter: Matt Holmes
Email Address: matt.holmes@newsplex.com
Eight Cases of Swine Flu Reported at UVa During Fall Semester
Thursday August 27, 2009
Health officials at the University of Virginia say they've seen nine cases of the swine flu so far during the fall semester; four of those presented on Thursday alone. At least one of the students infected is a first year. Students and professors are now taking precautions to make sure they're not the next to catch the bug.
Numbers were even higher during the summer. According to UVa Student Health, 64 students were infected with H1N1 at the end of last year and during summer school, from May 4 through August 22.
"Judging from what's going on nationwide, I'm sure we're going to have a pretty significant outbreak," says James C. Turner, M.D., the Executive Director of UVa's Department of Student Health.
Turner says to keep things from getting worse, university leaders are working to get sick students into quarantine. "We're asking them to self-isolate in their dorm room if they can't go home. If they can go home, we'd like them to go home."
Students say they're not going to wait around and take chances with the flu and neither are their professors.
"This year, one of my professors addressed the issue in class...telling students...just, you know, don't come. If you feel sick, do us all a favor," says Fourth Year Charles Dyer.
Fellow Fourth Year Jenny Smith adds, "I've been more conscious...you know, you wash your hands, you cough into your sleeve and I think it's the simple things that are going to help us in the long run."
While students engage in some of the social traditions of college, they say they're doing it with the flu in mind.
"I think the thing that I always think about is beer pong," Dyer says. "People are reusing the same cups. That probably sounds like the worst thing to do in a pandemic."
Health officials say, while they're ready to take every necessary precaution to keep students healthy, they're not worried about the severity of an outbreak at UVa.
"They're going to get through this just fine," Turner says. "It's not a serious disease, it's a minor disease. They're going to feel miserable for a couple of days and then hopefully recover uneventfully."
Turner adds he's expecting a big shipment of swine flu vaccine in mid-October. At that point, he says they'll try and vaccinate as many students as possible.
A presidential panel earlier this week predicted that as many as 90,000 Americans could die as a result of the swine flu this fall.
Updated: 11:56 AM Aug 28, 2009
Nine Cases of Swine Flu Reported at UVa.
Health officials at the University of Virginia say they've seen nine cases of the swine flu so far during the fall semester, four of which were presented on Thursday. Students and professors are now taking precautions to make sure they're not the next to catch the bug.
Posted: 1:16 AM Aug 28, 2009
Reporter: Matt Holmes
Email Address: matt.holmes@newsplex.com
Eight Cases of Swine Flu Reported at UVa During Fall Semester
Thursday August 27, 2009
Health officials at the University of Virginia say they've seen nine cases of the swine flu so far during the fall semester; four of those presented on Thursday alone. At least one of the students infected is a first year. Students and professors are now taking precautions to make sure they're not the next to catch the bug.
Numbers were even higher during the summer. According to UVa Student Health, 64 students were infected with H1N1 at the end of last year and during summer school, from May 4 through August 22.
"Judging from what's going on nationwide, I'm sure we're going to have a pretty significant outbreak," says James C. Turner, M.D., the Executive Director of UVa's Department of Student Health.
Turner says to keep things from getting worse, university leaders are working to get sick students into quarantine. "We're asking them to self-isolate in their dorm room if they can't go home. If they can go home, we'd like them to go home."
Students say they're not going to wait around and take chances with the flu and neither are their professors.
"This year, one of my professors addressed the issue in class...telling students...just, you know, don't come. If you feel sick, do us all a favor," says Fourth Year Charles Dyer.
Fellow Fourth Year Jenny Smith adds, "I've been more conscious...you know, you wash your hands, you cough into your sleeve and I think it's the simple things that are going to help us in the long run."
While students engage in some of the social traditions of college, they say they're doing it with the flu in mind.
"I think the thing that I always think about is beer pong," Dyer says. "People are reusing the same cups. That probably sounds like the worst thing to do in a pandemic."
Health officials say, while they're ready to take every necessary precaution to keep students healthy, they're not worried about the severity of an outbreak at UVa.
"They're going to get through this just fine," Turner says. "It's not a serious disease, it's a minor disease. They're going to feel miserable for a couple of days and then hopefully recover uneventfully."
Turner adds he's expecting a big shipment of swine flu vaccine in mid-October. At that point, he says they'll try and vaccinate as many students as possible.
A presidential panel earlier this week predicted that as many as 90,000 Americans could die as a result of the swine flu this fall.
