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Swine flu a bigger worry with return to campus

Thursday, September 3, 2009

(Updated 11:49 am)

By Joe Killian
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — With students moved in at the city’s two largest college campuses, concern about the H1N1 virus, or “swine flu,” has moved front and center.

“It’s in the community generally, but when you get a lot of people together, the chances of catching anything increases,” said Dr. Tresa Saxton, director of student health services at UNCG. “So when people are in a dorm situation, we’re certainly concerned.”

Saxton said UNCG has had six confirmed cases of H1N1 since the virus came to the area in April. N.C. A&T confirmed its seventh case Wednesday. But many more people are reporting symptoms than are being confirmed on either campus. Only those sick enough to need hospitalization are being tested.

Guilford County has seen 42 confirmed cases of H1N1, said Lynne Beck, a health educator with the Guilford County Public Health Department. But she said confirmed numbers don’t show the real prevalence of the virus — in the Triad or nationwide.

“What we know is that H1N1 is the virus that is currently circulating in our area,” Beck said. “If someone has influenzalike symptoms right now, they should assume it’s H1N1. Flu season in North Carolina begins in October and extends through April. What we are seeing in terms of flu is the novel H1N1 virus.”

Linda Wilson, executive director of student health at A&T, said the health center has seen about 60 people with flulike symptoms since April — mostly students, but a few faculty members as well.

Wilson said the best thing they can do for people is educate them about how the virus is spread.

“If they have symptoms, we’re telling them to self-isolate, stay out of class until their fever has subsided, until their fever has gone for 24 hours,” Wilson said. “And we’re telling everyone to watch their hand sanitation, cough into their sleeves, stay away from large crowds. All the preventative things they can do.”

Beck said people with symptoms should see a doctor, but Guilford County has been lucky to get mostly mild cases of the virus.

“Most people have been able to get over it without hospital intervention and in many cases without medical intervention,” she said. “A lot of them are just staying at home, keeping themselves hydrated, some treating themselves with over-the-counter medication.”

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

File photo (News & Record)

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Newspaper Reader

September 3, 2009 - 11:29 am EDT

I would tend to agree with Ms. Beck..."confirmed numbers don't show the real prevalence of the virus in the Triad...."

My child has all the symptoms of the swine flu virus and has been ill for five days and counting. The flu test came back negative in the early stages of his illness so he was not given Tamiflu. Unfortunately, the rapid flu tests, in general, are only about 70% accurate and apparently testing for swine flu is not even being done unless the patient is hospitalized.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday (page A4) that New York City, in order to help trace breakouts, "is planning to post daily and weekly updates on its new flu Web portal and report which schools have five or more cases of influenza-like illness." That would probably be a better gauge of how prevalent the flu virus is right now. My child's school already has five students of which I am aware who have flu-like illnesses.

Shouldn't Guilford County Schools or Greensboro being doing something like this on their websites?

jbcarper

September 3, 2009 - 2:29 pm EDT

There are cases of the flu every year. From all indications, the H1N1 strain going around is not more virulent than those of past years. We have come to really enjoy a good panic.

Newspaper Reader

September 3, 2009 - 8:55 pm EDT

JB, I certainly agree that one could cause an unnecessary panic by disseminating information about H1N1; however, it’s been my experience that most people panic when they are given incorrect or incomplete information. GCS would be wise to track the number of flu-like illnesses in each school, keep parents updated on those numbers, put those numbers in appropriate context for parents and describe what they are doing to mitigate the situation at the school. Parents should be kept duly informed about what is going on so they do NOT panic.

And yes, the H1N1 flu is not necessarily more virulent than other flu strains; however, it does tend to hit young people hard. Most parents this time of year are not expecting a flu virus; they are expecting colds or sinus infections gone amok. It’s in everyone’s best interest for parents to be aware that a flu virus is present in their child’s school population and be aware their child might actually have the flu—H1N1 or otherwise. The flu doesn’t always look like the flu the first day or two. It’s especially important for parents to err on the side of caution and keep their sick children at home.