As students started classes many became familiar with the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, and the possibilities of an outbreak during this semester at Baker University.
“It’s never fun to have the flu and it is a fact that people have died,” Professor of Biology Darcy Russell said. “But we have the ability to take care of our students here.”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as of Aug. 20, there have been 7,983 hospitalizations and 522 deaths in the United States from the H1N1 virus. The Kansas Department of Health has reported 324 cases of H1N1 in Kansas, with 12 cases in Douglas County.
Russell said the flu virus is interesting in that when there is a shift in a virus, very few people are immune to it, and it takes time to develop a new vaccine.
“This strain of the flu has been devastating in history,” she said.
The H1N1 virus appeared in 1918 when 500 million people, what was then one-third of the earth’s population, got the flu and 50- to 100 million people died.
While the H1N1 flu virus is an obvious concern for the students on Baker’s campus, the university has been taking steps to prepare for an outbreak.
“Students that get sick should leave campus if they are close enough to go home,” Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, said. “Do not return to class until you have been without fever for 24 hours without fever reducers.”
Sarna posted a letter addressing some of the concerns involved with the H1N1 virus to the Baker Web site in the Health and Safety Information section of the Current Student area.
While Baker has updated policies from the 2006 avian flu to deal with H1N1, many departments discussed their own policies during the first day of classes.
“It made me realize that we probably shouldn’t be surprised if the flu ends up affecting some of us personally or if it becomes a personal threat,” junior Dani Weimholt said. “It’s not necessary to be worried, though, since there isn’t much we can do but try and avoid it.”
Some common ways to protect against the virus include washing hands, eating healthy and getting plenty of sleep.
Students who think they may be sick from the flu should avoid attending classes and email professors as well as notify Sarna in the health center.
For more information on symptoms and protection against the H1N1 flu virus, visit the CDC at www.CDC.gov/h1n1flu or the Kansas Health Department at www.kdheks.gov/H1N1/index.htm.<br/>&#160;