4 months ago
It appears that H1N1, or Swine Flu, is spreading quicker than many may have imagined. The virus is being blamed for unprecedented illness and dozens of deaths. According to The Centers For Disease Control (CDC), 86 children have died of Swine Flu. 43 of those cases were reported in September and early October. The CDC also says the virus is causing widespread disease in 41 states and six percent of all doctor visits are for flu-like symptoms, ...levels that aren't normally seen this time of year.
The sudden rise in flu cases has some local colleges preparing for a rise in student absences. Currently the number of students and faculty out sick with the flu at both the University at Buffalo and Hilbert College are low. But both schools expect those numbers to increase.
U.B. says it has warned professors about massive absences.
"We're asking the professors to be a little more lenient with class attendance schedules and also asking for them to be a little more lenient with doctor's excuses if they miss more than two or three classes," said Jim Reger, Emergency Manager at the University At Buffalo.
Hilbert is suggesting the same thing. And they're tackling the bugs in the dorms.
"We have hand sanitizers all over the buildings," said Peter Burns, Hilbert College Dean of Students. "We have an isolation room if somebody comes down with severe symptoms or fever. We've actually had one student so far we've put in isolation, come to find out he's fine."
U.B. even has what they call an infectious disease committee, a group of doctors monitoring reported illnesses and preparing plans in the event of mass absenteeism in the event of a large outbreak.
"If I got to the point we had too many faculty and staff out, we would probably just cancel classes for a durational time," said Reger.
Both schools say they're ready for massive outbreaks, but hope their prevention plans keep the campuses healthy.
"We're paying very close attention and hope we dodge any kind of serious outbreak here," Burns said.
