Preventing the pandemic: H1N1
How state, local, and university officials are combating the rising concern of a potential killer outbreak.
By Adrian Kendrick | Editor-in-Chief
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has confirmed a total of 314 cases of the pandemic HIN1 influenza in the state. In addition, four deaths have been associated with H1N1 in Indiana since April 2009. With school back in session, the virus is expected to spread rapidly, and college students are in jeopardy.
“College students are more at risk because of the close contact throughout campus,” said Dr. Andrew D. Dick, family practitioner. “The virus is hitting the under-24 age group heavily. H1N1 hits people with stronger immune systems. The healthier you are, the more risk you have.”
The H1N1 virus, formerly known as swine flu, pig flu or novel H1N1 swine flu, is swine influenza carried in pigs. The virus is transferred through human-to-human contact and is contagious according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It is caused by the Influenza A strain, subtype H1N1.
The influenza is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by a virus. It is characterized by a sudden fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, dry hacking cough and general discomfort or weakness. The CDC reported that symptoms last three to 10 days and in most cases resolve spontaneously.
Health officials report that the problem with H1N1 is most persons begin to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven to 10 days after becoming sick. This results in individuals passing the virus prior to getting sick and afterwards.
According to Vicky Lynn Moran, director of UIndy student health and certified family nurse practitioner, the seasonal flu shot may help prevent the H1N1 virus, but it does not guarantee immunity.
“The H1N1 is a sub-type of the Influenza A strain, and the seasonal flu certainly has some of the H1N1 factors, as well as others,” she said. “We don’t know if it will help not to catch the virus. However, we hope there will be some reactivity like that.”
UIndy currently does not have the seasonal flu shot available. However, the student health center is expecting the vaccine to arrive soon. The shot will be offered for $20 at the university.
The CDC recently announced that the H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in mid-October. There are some possibilities that the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. According to Dick, the vaccine will first be distributed amongst specific groups such as health care workers, the under-21 age group and general workers.
“The idea is to give the vaccine to the most at-risk first, to give partial immunity in order to prevent a wildfire,” he said. “This virus is unique because no one has immunity, since it’s new. In the past, people may have had slight immunity, but not with H1N1.”
As this new strain continues to spread throughout Indiana, universities are taking precautions to prevent a wide outbreak among students. As of The Reflector press time, UIndy had no reported cases of H1N1. The university is currently updating its emergency plans to deal wth this new virus. If an epidemic occurs, school officials will seek the counsel of ISDH about closing the university.
According to Kory Vitangeli, dean of students, the UIndy Pandemic Flu Committee is monitoring the recommendation of CDC and ISDH to make sure the university if following the proper protocols and procedures.
“We feel we are prepared if an outbreak were to occur,” Vitangeli said. “Fortunately, so far we’ve only had students with mild flu-like symptoms. The university is taking the necessary preventive measures ,and hopefully the students are properly educated.”
