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Source: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2010/03/05/7_h1n1_cases_diagnosed.aspx
Posted on March 5, 2010 4:57 AM
7 H1N1 cases diagnosed
Seven students were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus in the past two weeks, according to a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
These new diagnoses signal a need for students to receive vaccinations -- and Penn State's vaccine stockpile is slated to expire at the end of March, University Health Services (UHS) Director Margaret Spear said. The university is unlikely to receive more vaccines before the end of the school year.
The confirmed cases are the first since the spring semester began in January.
"There's no excuse for a student not to get a vaccination," Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said. "It really is an issue again, and you need to make sure you're protected."
Swine flu vaccines, the most effective prevention tool, are available at UHS for free to all Penn State students, UHS Marketing Manager Beth Collitt said. Though UHS offered several swine flu vaccine clinics throughout last semester, the vaccine is now only available by appointment.
Collitt said the recurrence of swine flu and the arrival of the seasonal flu -- which hasn't yet hit Penn State -- could coincide, making it possible for students to contract both swine flu and the seasonal flu.
"It could be that we still get a seasonal flu arriving at Penn State and a second round of H1N1, which would certainly be the worst-case scenario for students," Collitt said. "Certainly, no one wants to get sick during the last few weeks of classes."
Charlie Lynch (sophomore-community and environmental development) contracted H1N1 at the end of January. The virus wasn't as bad as he expected, save for one thing: isolation.
"It was okay at first, but then it got a little weird being forced to stay out in my room all the time and not being able to go out and see people," Lynch said. "It was nice not to have class, but it got old really fast."
And he never thought he'd be one to contract the illness.
"I thought it could happen to someone else, but not me," Lynch said. "It's a big campus."
Collegian Staff Writer Edgar Ramirez contributed to this report.
Posted on March 5, 2010 4:57 AM
7 H1N1 cases diagnosed
Seven students were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus in the past two weeks, according to a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
These new diagnoses signal a need for students to receive vaccinations -- and Penn State's vaccine stockpile is slated to expire at the end of March, University Health Services (UHS) Director Margaret Spear said. The university is unlikely to receive more vaccines before the end of the school year.
The confirmed cases are the first since the spring semester began in January.
"There's no excuse for a student not to get a vaccination," Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said. "It really is an issue again, and you need to make sure you're protected."
Swine flu vaccines, the most effective prevention tool, are available at UHS for free to all Penn State students, UHS Marketing Manager Beth Collitt said. Though UHS offered several swine flu vaccine clinics throughout last semester, the vaccine is now only available by appointment.
Collitt said the recurrence of swine flu and the arrival of the seasonal flu -- which hasn't yet hit Penn State -- could coincide, making it possible for students to contract both swine flu and the seasonal flu.
"It could be that we still get a seasonal flu arriving at Penn State and a second round of H1N1, which would certainly be the worst-case scenario for students," Collitt said. "Certainly, no one wants to get sick during the last few weeks of classes."
Charlie Lynch (sophomore-community and environmental development) contracted H1N1 at the end of January. The virus wasn't as bad as he expected, save for one thing: isolation.
"It was okay at first, but then it got a little weird being forced to stay out in my room all the time and not being able to go out and see people," Lynch said. "It was nice not to have class, but it got old really fast."
And he never thought he'd be one to contract the illness.
"I thought it could happen to someone else, but not me," Lynch said. "It's a big campus."
Collegian Staff Writer Edgar Ramirez contributed to this report.