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OSU students prepped for swine flu
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:07 AM
By Suzanne Hoholik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State University officials sent e-mails and fliers to students during the summer to teach them about swine flu before they moved back to campus.
"We had seven confirmed cases in the spring, and we fully anticipate there will be flu on campus this fall," said Dr. Roger Miller, a preventive-medicine physician at the OSU Wilce Student Health Center.
The information included prevention tips such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.
Schools in Ohio and across the country are reporting cases of swine flu, officially called H1N1.
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Officials also told students to add thermometers, tissues and hand sanitizers to their back-to-school supplies. New dorm residents will receive "stay well bags" that include some of these items.
Yesterday, university officials said that students who develop flulike symptoms will be asked to isolate themselves or go home to their parents. They will need to tell their roommates and resident assistant, and arrangements will be made to have food delivered to them if they stay on campus.
Roommates will not be asked to move, because they will have been exposed before symptoms show up.
Students with mild symptoms don't have to call the student health center or hospital, Miller said.
The Ohio Department of Health has stopped testing individual cases to confirm swine flu unless the person meets specific criteria. University officials will assume that all suspected cases are swine flu.
Miller said faculty members have been asked to accommodate students with the flu.
"They may have rules that state, 'Students can't miss class.' We're asking they be flexible," he said.
Unlike some other Ohio universities, Ohio State does not plan to set up quarantine areas.
The university tripled its order of the seasonal-flu vaccine this year, to 6,000 doses, and has them available at the student health center. Faculty and staff members can get vaccinated through OSU Medical Center.
The nursing and medical schools are requiring that students get the seasonal-flu vaccine. Miller said they are the only two colleges doing so.
Nationwide Children's Hospital told workers yesterday that they will be required to get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. The hospital has the seasonal vaccine for employees and will distribute the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten.../15/OSUSwine.ART_ART_09-15-09_B1_O5F31CL.html
OSU students prepped for swine flu
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:07 AM
By Suzanne Hoholik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State University officials sent e-mails and fliers to students during the summer to teach them about swine flu before they moved back to campus.
"We had seven confirmed cases in the spring, and we fully anticipate there will be flu on campus this fall," said Dr. Roger Miller, a preventive-medicine physician at the OSU Wilce Student Health Center.
The information included prevention tips such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.
Schools in Ohio and across the country are reporting cases of swine flu, officially called H1N1.
Story continues belowAdvertisement
Officials also told students to add thermometers, tissues and hand sanitizers to their back-to-school supplies. New dorm residents will receive "stay well bags" that include some of these items.
Yesterday, university officials said that students who develop flulike symptoms will be asked to isolate themselves or go home to their parents. They will need to tell their roommates and resident assistant, and arrangements will be made to have food delivered to them if they stay on campus.
Roommates will not be asked to move, because they will have been exposed before symptoms show up.
Students with mild symptoms don't have to call the student health center or hospital, Miller said.
The Ohio Department of Health has stopped testing individual cases to confirm swine flu unless the person meets specific criteria. University officials will assume that all suspected cases are swine flu.
Miller said faculty members have been asked to accommodate students with the flu.
"They may have rules that state, 'Students can't miss class.' We're asking they be flexible," he said.
Unlike some other Ohio universities, Ohio State does not plan to set up quarantine areas.
The university tripled its order of the seasonal-flu vaccine this year, to 6,000 doses, and has them available at the student health center. Faculty and staff members can get vaccinated through OSU Medical Center.
The nursing and medical schools are requiring that students get the seasonal-flu vaccine. Miller said they are the only two colleges doing so.
Nationwide Children's Hospital told workers yesterday that they will be required to get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. The hospital has the seasonal vaccine for employees and will distribute the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten.../15/OSUSwine.ART_ART_09-15-09_B1_O5F31CL.html