prepdeb
Moderator
Flu cases put OSU on guard
by: SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
8/12/2009 3:18:06 AM
STILLWATER ?At least three young women on the Oklahoma State University campus came down with the flu last week, prompting officials to hasten their plans for combating the virus this fall.
Steve Rogers, director of University Health Services, said the cases did not meet the criteria to ask for a diagnosis from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, so OSU does not know whether the women had the seasonal flu or H1N1, commonly known as swine flu.
They were participating in a sorority recruitment program last week before fall classes begin Monday.
Their symptoms were relatively mild, and they were treated and sent home, Rogers said.
"Even though the girls were ill, it wasn't as bad of a flu as we've seen before," he said.
Campus personnel have been undergoing training this summer to prepare for a potential H1N1 outbreak at the campus as fall classes get under way.
Plans to deal with the situation have been developed in line with guidelines from the state and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rogers said.
Starting Wednesday, about 1,400 incoming freshmen will be moving into their dorms and participating in a three-day orientation program on campus.
Other students will move in this weekend as fall classes in Stillwater begin next week.
Residence hall advisers and staff members across OSU have been training to identify and respond to swine flu symptoms.
Those who show signs of the flu can be treated at the campus health center. They will then be told to isolate themselves by going home or staying in their rooms at least until the fever breaks, Roger said.
"We certainly weren't expecting it this soon," he said.
Residence hall and university dining personnel have met and discussed how sick students can be cared for while under isolation if they cannot go home, said Matt Brown, OSU's director of residential life.
Most students have private rooms, and temporary space in another residence hall is available, as well, he said.
Officials will keep track of where sick students live and whether the virus is spreading in certain residence buildings on campus, Brown said.
Rogers said posters, e-mails and other announcements reminding people to wash their hands and take other common-sense precautions against the flu will be prominently featured on campus through the fall.
University of Tulsa spokesman David Hamby said orientation at TU will be next week and that classes start Aug. 24, meaning that few students are on that campus.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20090812_11_A11_STILLW534415
by: SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
8/12/2009 3:18:06 AM
STILLWATER ?At least three young women on the Oklahoma State University campus came down with the flu last week, prompting officials to hasten their plans for combating the virus this fall.
Steve Rogers, director of University Health Services, said the cases did not meet the criteria to ask for a diagnosis from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, so OSU does not know whether the women had the seasonal flu or H1N1, commonly known as swine flu.
They were participating in a sorority recruitment program last week before fall classes begin Monday.
Their symptoms were relatively mild, and they were treated and sent home, Rogers said.
"Even though the girls were ill, it wasn't as bad of a flu as we've seen before," he said.
Campus personnel have been undergoing training this summer to prepare for a potential H1N1 outbreak at the campus as fall classes get under way.
Plans to deal with the situation have been developed in line with guidelines from the state and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rogers said.
Starting Wednesday, about 1,400 incoming freshmen will be moving into their dorms and participating in a three-day orientation program on campus.
Other students will move in this weekend as fall classes in Stillwater begin next week.
Residence hall advisers and staff members across OSU have been training to identify and respond to swine flu symptoms.
Those who show signs of the flu can be treated at the campus health center. They will then be told to isolate themselves by going home or staying in their rooms at least until the fever breaks, Roger said.
"We certainly weren't expecting it this soon," he said.
Residence hall and university dining personnel have met and discussed how sick students can be cared for while under isolation if they cannot go home, said Matt Brown, OSU's director of residential life.
Most students have private rooms, and temporary space in another residence hall is available, as well, he said.
Officials will keep track of where sick students live and whether the virus is spreading in certain residence buildings on campus, Brown said.
Rogers said posters, e-mails and other announcements reminding people to wash their hands and take other common-sense precautions against the flu will be prominently featured on campus through the fall.
University of Tulsa spokesman David Hamby said orientation at TU will be next week and that classes start Aug. 24, meaning that few students are on that campus.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20090812_11_A11_STILLW534415