Preparation for the population

September 14, 2009 —

by James Fry

H1N1 is a strain of influenza that is commonly referred to as swine flu. SVSU is on alert for possible outbreaks of the potentially deadly virus.

College campuses nationwide have found a common rival that transcends football season.

The H1N1 strain of influenza, commonly known as swine flu, has health care professionals urging caution, especially at universities, where close living quarters are the norm.

Projections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have schools on alert this fall and winter for potentially deadly H1N1 outbreaks. A report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology indicates that estimates of up to 90,000 U.S. deaths, mostly among children and young adults, are plausible if the virus resurges as expected.

But the situation so far has not differed greatly from the regular seasonal flu, says Dr. Matthew Deibel of Saginaw’s Covenant Emergency Care Center.

“We don’t expect that young, healthy people are going to be dying from this,” Deibel said.

The CDC reports that on average 36,000 people die each year in the U.S. and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications. More than 90 percent of deaths occur in people older than 65.

Although many are preparing for a worst-case scenario, Deibel said he does not anticipate approaching highend fatality projections.

“I don’t think it will be [as severe]. That’s what we’ve seen so far,” he said.

The CDC predicts the H1N1 vaccine will be available in the fall, but time needed to manufacture and clinically test the drug hinders specific release dates.

Saginaw’s Covenant HealthCare manager Paul Shaub said the facility has requested access to the vaccine and awaits further information. He does not anticipate the vaccine will initially be available to the general population.
“Most of the student population are healthy young adults,” he said. “And from what we’re hearing, they probably wouldn’t be in the primary group [to receive the vaccine].”

Schaub expects that those who will have first access are pregnant women, health care workers and people with compromised medical conditions.

The CDC lists the age-24-and-under population as a target group that should seek vaccinations when they become available.

According to its Web site, the CDC does not anticipate a vaccine shortage, but acknowledges the possibility of unpredictable demand. If the vaccine is available in limited quantities, the organization recommends that certain groups receive it before others. Such groups include pregnant women, health care personnel with direct patient contact and children ages 5 to 18 with chronic medical conditions.

“[Students] should get vaccinated when it becomes available, but there shouldn’t be a mad rush to get it,” Deibel said.

Attention to proper hygiene is another important prevention strategy, Shaub said. The Saginaw County Department of Public health urges frequent hand washing, covering of the mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

The University is collaborating with Covenant HealthCare to keep SVSU updated and prepared for possible outbreaks.

Robert Maurovich, vice president of Student Services and Enrollment Management, said the University is monitoring the situation and informing students on precautions. SVSU’s homepage links to a University health advisory on H1N1 and provides other sites for additional information.

Prior to H1N1, the University had not issued a campus-wide health advisory since fall 2007 concerns arose over a possible outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Four on-campus students were treated for isolated incidents of the staph infection.

So far no students have reported testing positive for the H1N1 virus.

“We try to strike a balance and not give undue alarm,” Maurovich said, “but at the same time we want people to recognize that this is serious and we’ve taken the necessary precautions.”

Maurovich said students who develop flu-like symptoms should stay home to avoid prolonging their own recovery or putting others at risk.

The CDC recommends that students who live close to campus return home if possible to avoid spreading the virus to other residents. Only one person should administer at-home care for a sick individual when possible.

Those with typical flu symptoms should not necessarily visit the emergency room, Deibel said, but are better off waiting for their symptoms to subside in isolation when possible.

“I don’t think anybody knows for sure if it will strike here,” Maurovich said, “but if we follow the protocols we’ve identified, we can limit the severity of this.”