H1N1 Update
Dr. Lawrence of the Student Health Center has sent out an email update to the RPI Community. It states that there have been seven cases of H1N1, and five have fully recovered. It also outlines the rationale and procedure for the isolation rooms, and mentions that the Poly published the flu vaccine schedule. Full text below.
To: The Rensselaer Community
From: Leslie Lawrence, M.D.
Medical Director, Student Health Center
Re: H1N1 Update
Date: Oct. 1, 2009
As of October 1, we have experienced seven cases of influenza among our
students. Five of those students are fully recovered, and two are
recuperating at home with their families.
The number of affected students has remained very low, and I know this
is in large part due to all of your efforts to protect yourselves from
getting sick. Please keep up the exceptionally good work as the number
of cases in our area and on campus continues to increase. Prevention
remains the most important way of protecting our community.
We have received some questions regarding our approach to isolating
students who cannot go home while they recover from the H1N1 virus. I
would like to reassure you that living in close proximity to H1N1
isolation rooms does not pose a significant risk of contracting the
virus.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends, among its best
practices for colleges and universities experiencing H1N1 outbreaks,
isolating ill individuals in a dormitory setting. You may wish to see
the full context for this recommendation by visiting the CDC Website at
http://www.flu.gov/professional/school/higheredguidance.html. These
rooms and related procedures are the best way to protect roommates and
dorm mates. They also allow us to keep close watch and take care of each
ill student individually.
All isolation rooms are clearly marked on the outside door. No visitors
are allowed into those rooms, other than the official care staff at
Rensselaer. Each student who is diagnosed with influenza may come out of
the isolation room only to go to a kitchenette across the hall, and must
always wear a mask and gloves when making this trip.
Please look for our seasonal flu vaccine schedule in this week’s
Poly. Currently, we are offering only seasonal flu vaccines to
students. Remember that this vaccine protects against seasonal flu and
not H1N1. The H1N1 vaccine is still scheduled to arrive in early to
mid-October.
As always, your best protections against the flu include:
* Washing your hands often, especially after shaking hands with
others (hand disinfectants may be used if there is no access to
soap and water);
* Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
* Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing;
* Covering your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow if you
do not have a tissue;
* Not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, especially after contact
with others; and
* Keeping a three-foot [one-meter] distance between yourself and
anyone who is ill.
Please take care.
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