Eastern is beginning to see the H1N1 virus appear on campus.

“We know this virus is on our campus, and we know it’s going to spread,” said Sheila Baker, medical director of Health Service. “So, we are seeing cases of H1N1. What we don’t know is how many people will be affected, how severe will it be.”

College students are one of the more susceptible groups who contract the H1N1 virus.

Baker said the group most in danger of contracting the virus are people 6 months through 24 years old, health care and emergency personnel, pregnant women, caretakers of infants fewer than 6 months old, and people 25 years and older with underlying medical conditions like diabetes.

Younger people are more at risk, Baker said.

“It may have to do with the lack of natural immunity,” she said. “Older people may have seen something of this virus or similar viruses in the past. Younger people have not seen it before and are having a higher frequency of a severe case.”

In a normal flu season, 50 percent of cases are people 65 years or older. This year, half the cases are those 50 years and younger.

The Center for Disease Control stated more than 70 countries have reported cases and that more than 47,771 cases occurred in the U.S. with 302 deaths reported.

Recognizing symptoms, spread

The CDC believes most cases of H1N1 are mild and are manageable without a doctor’s care, Baker said.

The key symptoms of H1N1 flu include a fever of more than 100 degrees, headaches, body aches, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea, Baker said.

“If someone has those symptoms, we try to figure out what the diagnosis is,” she said. If someone comes in with, say a sore throat, Health Service will continue to test students for other illnesses like strep throat and mononucleosis.

Baker said the CDC tells health providers that people who have key symptoms and no other explanation should be considered as H1N1 carriers. If a student, faculty or staff member has mild symptoms of H1N1 flu, Baker wants them to not interact with others.

“You should self-isolate yourself in your dorm room or at your real home,” Baker said. “Push fluids, rest and don’t go out into the public until you are fever-free for 24 hours. If your symptoms are mild, the CDC is asking you not to go to the doctor.”

Serious symptoms are for the doctor or Health Service, she said.

One of the problems this virus causes is its propensity to spread through aerial and direct contact.

“The virus is spread by respiratory droplets, like if someone coughs on you, or if someone touches desktops and doorknobs,” Baker said.

The concern with H1N1 flu is the number of false-negative tests that misinforms sick students they are well, and they spread the virus.

“We have quick and rapid tests that aren’t 100 percent accurate,” Baker said. “There is some error involved.”

The margin of error for the H1N1 virus test is similar to the strep test, which has an error range of 20 percent, Baker said.

Without a reliable test, Baker said the HERC and Health Service will not test every student but will consult H1N1 flu’s clinical symptoms when more cases come on campus.

Bob Bajek and Jose Gonzalez can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.

In talking to players on the men’s soccer team this season, they have pointed out many differences between this year and last season’s teams. They have talked about depth, work ethic, but most have said the main difference is attitude.

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