The H1N1 flu virus has sicked some 35 Washington College students so far this fall. Another 13 students have been sent home or put in isolation this week, in addition to the 22 who had been found with symptoms last week.
About half of those who’ve come down with the virus have recovered and returned to class.
“No one has had any complications so far,” reports Dawn Nordhoff, the college’s clinical director.
Cases here have shown typical flu symptoms: fever, some sore throats, coughs and chills.
“But they seem to be recovering quickly,” Nordhoff says. “Some have come back. We see them out for four-five days at the most.”
When a student comes to the clinic with flu systems, parents are called and asked to come pick them up.
“Unless that’s not reasonable,” Nordhoff explains. “We can’t put them on public transportation. We can’t fly them home” – and expose others to the virus.
Washington College has some empty rooms and those whose homes are too distant are being put in isolation on campus.
L.J. Burgess says
It’s a shame more wasn’t done in advance of the students returning to classes.
While flu shots will be made available for staff on the 21st…the horse is already out of the barn.
With no visual signs warning of viral spread in dining services, the young ones are handling food products without utilizing the service utensils provided, therefor spreading the virus amongst themselves and the staff.
With dining services already understaffed by a half dozen bodies, in the name of economy, who will feed the college if half of the staff goes down?
Spunkmeyer says
I don’t understand what more could possibly be done without dousing the world in Lysol or a strategy that somehow involves time travel… no vaccine exists yet.
People don’t show signs of illness… until they do. Preparedness and irrational fear of what might happen are two different things.
Nick says
…and believe me, we have enough of the latter up here already.