Swine Flu Confirmed at UPB
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has had its first confirmed case of H1N1—or swine flu – a student who has since recovered and is back on campus.
Health officials on campus received the confirmed diagnosis late Thursday afternoon.
The student became ill in the early morning hours of Sept. 10. Campus Police drove him to the emergency room at Bradford Regional Medical Center, where he was tested. He returned to campus in the afternoon, and his father came to take him home later that day.
As a precaution, Bonnie McMillen, director of Health Services on campus, called the sick student’s roommate, suggesting he go home right away. The roommate agreed since he lives close by. Also, additional precautions were taken, including cleaning and disinfecting the entire apartment that evening.
The student was able to return to campus on Monday, Sept. 14, after being free of a fever for at least 24 hours, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. McMillen said she had called him on Friday, the day after he went home, “and he was feeling better already. I told him not to return until he was fever free and felt better.”
As of Friday morning, McMillen said she has received no word that any of the students in the apartment are ill.
At Pitt-Bradford, any student who contracts H1N1 is asked to self-isolate, a recommendation by the CDC, which is what happened in this first case.
“Getting this student home quickly and disinfecting the apartment, contributed much, I am sure, to containing this first case,” said Dr. K. James Evans, vice president and dean of student affairs.
As of Friday, that was the lone case of H1N1 on campus, though other students have complained of feeling sick.
“We are seeing quite a few students with upper-respiratory complaints,” McMillen said, “as is usual for this time of year. But we’ve seen no further flu cases.”
Health officials and administrators on campus have been on alert since the first H1N1 outbreak in the spring and spent the last few months developing ways to help prevent the spread of the illness.
In addition to sending informational letters to students and their parents, along with faculty and staff, Pitt-Bradford officials have been educating its students and employees in a variety of ways. Resident assistants in the residence halls have given cleaning demonstrations to the students living in their areas, and laminated cards with tips for staying healthy during influenza season have been distributed throughout campus.
In addition, extra precautions are being taken in the area of cleaning and sanitizing. The university’s cleaning contractor is sanitizing high-contact surface areas such as handrails, door knobs, door plates and bathroom sinks, and liquid hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the university. In addition, dining services is sanitizing tables, counters and chairs after each meal, and hand sanitizing wipes will be placed in the computer labs.
The university also held two clinics during the week to vaccinate students, faculty and staff against the seasonal flu. As vaccine for the virus becomes available, the university will hold another clinic to vaccinate against H1N1.
If a student contracts H1N1 and is isolated, student health services will be able to have sick trays delivered to them in their residence halls.
The university also has a pandemic plan to guide the campus through an outbreak of H1N1 or other diseases.
Health officials on campus received the confirmed diagnosis late Thursday afternoon.
The student became ill in the early morning hours of Sept. 10. Campus Police drove him to the emergency room at Bradford Regional Medical Center, where he was tested. He returned to campus in the afternoon, and his father came to take him home later that day.
As a precaution, Bonnie McMillen, director of Health Services on campus, called the sick student’s roommate, suggesting he go home right away. The roommate agreed since he lives close by. Also, additional precautions were taken, including cleaning and disinfecting the entire apartment that evening.
The student was able to return to campus on Monday, Sept. 14, after being free of a fever for at least 24 hours, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. McMillen said she had called him on Friday, the day after he went home, “and he was feeling better already. I told him not to return until he was fever free and felt better.”
As of Friday morning, McMillen said she has received no word that any of the students in the apartment are ill.
At Pitt-Bradford, any student who contracts H1N1 is asked to self-isolate, a recommendation by the CDC, which is what happened in this first case.
“Getting this student home quickly and disinfecting the apartment, contributed much, I am sure, to containing this first case,” said Dr. K. James Evans, vice president and dean of student affairs.
As of Friday, that was the lone case of H1N1 on campus, though other students have complained of feeling sick.
“We are seeing quite a few students with upper-respiratory complaints,” McMillen said, “as is usual for this time of year. But we’ve seen no further flu cases.”
Health officials and administrators on campus have been on alert since the first H1N1 outbreak in the spring and spent the last few months developing ways to help prevent the spread of the illness.
In addition to sending informational letters to students and their parents, along with faculty and staff, Pitt-Bradford officials have been educating its students and employees in a variety of ways. Resident assistants in the residence halls have given cleaning demonstrations to the students living in their areas, and laminated cards with tips for staying healthy during influenza season have been distributed throughout campus.
In addition, extra precautions are being taken in the area of cleaning and sanitizing. The university’s cleaning contractor is sanitizing high-contact surface areas such as handrails, door knobs, door plates and bathroom sinks, and liquid hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the university. In addition, dining services is sanitizing tables, counters and chairs after each meal, and hand sanitizing wipes will be placed in the computer labs.
The university also held two clinics during the week to vaccinate students, faculty and staff against the seasonal flu. As vaccine for the virus becomes available, the university will hold another clinic to vaccinate against H1N1.
If a student contracts H1N1 and is isolated, student health services will be able to have sick trays delivered to them in their residence halls.
The university also has a pandemic plan to guide the campus through an outbreak of H1N1 or other diseases.
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