With a record number of students on Sinclair Community College’s downtown campus this fall, it has become more difficult than ever to prevent and control disease.
Influenza is already widespread in 37 states, including Ohio, and any reports of widespread influenza activity in September and October are very unusual, according to the Center for Disease Control’s Web site.
“It is difficult and we are tracking it,” Sinclair Police Chief Charles Gift said about the H1N1 virus. “We’re counting on students, faculty and staff to self-report and also to take precautions.”
Also referred to as swine flu, symptoms for the H1N1 virus include coughing, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, chills, body aches, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting, according to Sinclair’s H1N1 Response Plan. Gift confirmed one case of the H1N1 virus on campus.
Gift said Sinclair is set to serve as a vaccination site by the beginning of November. Vaccination shots will be free to students, faculty and staff, as long as they are between the ages of six months to 24 years old, pregnant women and people with underlying conditions like diabetes or asthma, according to Gift.
“That’s what public health is doing because the Center for Disease Control says people over 24 are much less likely to catch the flu,” he said.
Sinclair has sent e-mails to students’ my.sinclair accounts informing them on ways to prevent the flu. Gift suggests students cover their nose and mouth whenever sneezing and to wash their hands right after. Gift is encouraging students who believe they have the H1N1 virus to stay home and get better.
“We’re going with what the CDC says and that’s to stay home until the fever is completely gone,” he said. “Instructors have been working with people who have been off and making arrangements for people to get their class work completed.”
Gift said the college does have an emergency plan, along with a plan for continued operation.
“I’m sure there will be numerous cases because it is the flu and the flu spreads very easily,” Gift said. “I don’t see it becoming a major problem at Sinclair at this point, but that could change daily.
“We just have to monitor the situation and track how many cases we have to see what effect it is having on the classes and the faculty and the staff.”
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