Officials are estimating that about 25 percent of students, faculty and staff on campus could be infected with the H1N1 influenza virus over the next few months.
As of Wednesday, there have been 11 probable H1N1 cases, according to Heather Reed, director of the Office of Student Life.
Representatives from Student Life, Residence Life, Greek Affairs and Lafene Health Center met Wednesday morning to discuss ways to monitor the new and future cases, Reed said.
“We made a plan to keep track of students who have H1N1 and make sure they have the support and resources they need,” she said. “Our number one priority is if a student becomes ill, we think the best option for them is to go home and recover.”
According to Steven Galitzer, director of environmental health and safety, the swine flu will affect campus in all areas.
“This flu is not a good flu,” he said. “We know a lot of people are going to get this flu.”
Galitzer also said K-State is working with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and meeting weekly with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Riley Co. Health Department to discuss preventing the spread of the swine flu as well as ways to alert students of developments in the cases.
Reed said students who are possible H1N1 cases have been asked to isolate themselves in their bedroom or go home to recover. If any roommates of sick students are healthy, they should find a temporary place to stay until the virus has moved on. To help ill students, Reed said both Lafene and Student Life will contact them each day they are sick to check on them and to see if they need anything to be more comfortable. They will also notify the students’ professors about missing class and catching up on assignments.
Posters and flyers detailing hygiene information have been placed around campus, and Lafene will continue to send out H1N1 alert e-mails to students, faculty and staff, Galitzer said.
“I do have my concerns that people will say ‘Oh, it’s just about the flu again,’ so they might not listen,” he said. “But I hope everyone will listen, and pay attention to this.
Galitzer said though the spread could affect a large number of students, the only cancelations on campus might be lecture classes with several hundred students. He also said the best solution right now would be to stagger the amount of people who are sick at once.
“Closing all of campus is a last resort,” he said. “I don’t anticipate that happening.”
Robert Tackett, medical director of Lafene, said though there are many numbers and sources of information floating around, officials are watching CDC regulations and taking the proper precautions to deal with the spread of H1N1. He said he doesn’t think there is any reason for students to panic.
“We’re preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best,” Tackett said.
H1N1 Resources
For more information on the H1N1 virus, including symptoms, what to do if you’re sick or how the illness could spread, check out www.k-state.edu/lafene/h1n1flu.htm.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a set of H1N1 guidelines for college campuses, called the CDC Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE). For more information or to read the guideines, visit www.flu.gov.
Be the first to comment on this article!