UPB Has Swine Flu Prevention Plan
With the return of students to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford today, the university is putting in place plans for preventing or mitigating a possible outbreak of the H1N1 influenza on campus.
“Whenever large groups of people come together, there’s always an increased possibility of illness,” noted Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “We have discussed, planned and organized measures to protect students and the faculty and staff in hopes of getting through the fall semester with minimum impact from H1N1.”
College students are at a higher risk than much of the population for two reasons. First, young people appear to be more susceptible to H1N1. The largest numbers of confirmed or probable cases of H1N1 have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, students live closely together, giving the virus a chance to spread.
To prevent the spread of H1N1, Pitt-Bradford is educating its students and employees in a variety of ways, from skits at orientation and cleaning demonstrations by resident assistants to distributing laminated cards with tips for staying healthy during influenza season.
In addition, extra precautions are being taken in the area of cleaning and sanitizing. The university’s cleaning contractor will sanitize 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 will sanitize tables, counters and chairs after each meal, and hand sanitizing wipes will be placed in the computer labs.
As part of orientation, students are being issued personal keychain-sized bottles of hand sanitizer.
Bonnie McMillen, director of health services, is urging students to be vigilant about hand washing, covering coughs and not sharing personal items, such as cell phones.
In the event that students do contract the H1N1 virus, they will be asked to self-isolate. Student health services will be able to have sick trays delivered to residence halls and/or arrange for transportation to local doctors with whom the campus has an agreement.
“We’re a school where the buddy system works pretty well,” said Dr. K. James Evans, vice president and dean of student affairs, explaining that resident assistants have been trained to recognize flu symptoms.
If possible, students will be asked to return home to recuperate.
“The vast majority of our students live within easy driving distance,” Evans said.
As vaccine for the virus becomes available, Pitt-Bradford plans to hold a vaccine clinic.
Pitt-Bradford has also developed a pandemic plan to guide the campus through an outbreak of H1N1 or other diseases.
Alexander said the college will monitor not only how H1N1 is spreading in Pennsylvania, but also in Western New York, a few miles north of campus.
“Whenever large groups of people come together, there’s always an increased possibility of illness,” noted Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “We have discussed, planned and organized measures to protect students and the faculty and staff in hopes of getting through the fall semester with minimum impact from H1N1.”
College students are at a higher risk than much of the population for two reasons. First, young people appear to be more susceptible to H1N1. The largest numbers of confirmed or probable cases of H1N1 have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, students live closely together, giving the virus a chance to spread.
To prevent the spread of H1N1, Pitt-Bradford is educating its students and employees in a variety of ways, from skits at orientation and cleaning demonstrations by resident assistants to distributing laminated cards with tips for staying healthy during influenza season.
In addition, extra precautions are being taken in the area of cleaning and sanitizing. The university’s cleaning contractor will sanitize 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 will sanitize tables, counters and chairs after each meal, and hand sanitizing wipes will be placed in the computer labs.
As part of orientation, students are being issued personal keychain-sized bottles of hand sanitizer.
Bonnie McMillen, director of health services, is urging students to be vigilant about hand washing, covering coughs and not sharing personal items, such as cell phones.
In the event that students do contract the H1N1 virus, they will be asked to self-isolate. Student health services will be able to have sick trays delivered to residence halls and/or arrange for transportation to local doctors with whom the campus has an agreement.
“We’re a school where the buddy system works pretty well,” said Dr. K. James Evans, vice president and dean of student affairs, explaining that resident assistants have been trained to recognize flu symptoms.
If possible, students will be asked to return home to recuperate.
“The vast majority of our students live within easy driving distance,” Evans said.
As vaccine for the virus becomes available, Pitt-Bradford plans to hold a vaccine clinic.
Pitt-Bradford has also developed a pandemic plan to guide the campus through an outbreak of H1N1 or other diseases.
Alexander said the college will monitor not only how H1N1 is spreading in Pennsylvania, but also in Western New York, a few miles north of campus.
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