All Posts Tagged With: "swine flu"
The students who cried swine flu
As universities urge sick students to stay away, some undergrads are faking H1N1
Thanks to H1N1, Section 16.8 of Dalhousie University’s Academic Regulations, regarding medical certificates in the case of illness (required to miss classes and assignments with no penalty incurred) has been modified. Since September, anyone with “flu-like symptoms” has been encouraged to stay far, far away from campus, no questions asked. It seems for now swine flu has killed the sick note at Dal. And other universities across the country have put similar policies into effect.
At first it seemed like a pure Godsend. Free to sign their own notes, students quickly expanded the definition of flu-like symptoms to include smoker’s cough, hangovers and an insatiable appetite for TLC’s Cake Boss. One Dal philosophy major has had the virus twice—once in Logic and once in Deduction—and is planning to contract it again before her Epistemology exam. “It’s supposed to come in waves,” she says.
Or not. Recently the University of Western Ontario started requiring infected students to enter their names into an online database, which could possibly red-flag multiple bouts of the flu. For students a new question loomed: how many times could they cry swine flu; and if they did malinger, what happened if they got the real thing?
Strangely, not much. John Doersken, vice provost in academic programs and students at UWO, maintains detecting fakes was never the reason for the database. “The system is in place so that we can provide our public health unit with data on how serious the pandemic is. We can tell on any given day how many students are away on influenza like illnesses.” Or at least, how many claim to be. There’s no telling, admits Doersken, how many students enter their names under false pretences.
And despite acknowledging that some students are likely using the pandemic for their own benefit, Susan Spence Wach, associate vice-president of academic programs at Dal, says their revised no-sick-note policy will remain in effect for now. “Our main concern is with flu prevention and the care of our student population.” In other words, having some people take advantage of the revised policy is better than what would occur if the policy were left unchanged. “People with flu-like symptoms,” says Spence Wach, “should not be going out to get sick notes. They should be at home.”
Though no official system is in place, data is also being collected at Dal, says Spence Wach: “On a weekly basis I get reports on student illness; only numbers, never names.”
So while it looks like students jumping on the H1N1 wagon won’t be facing any thorny disciplinary problems, they’re probably the contributing factors in some erroneous public health research—just another chapter in the swine flu fiasco. “For the most part, students aren’t abusing it,” says one Western undergrad, who prefers to remain anonymous. “However, I have heard of some students who are. Namely, myself and my roommates.”
When to stay home from school: Is it a cold, allergies or swine flu?
Sneezing or coughing might not be a big deal, but a fever is a red flag
In the face of a possible wave of H1N1 flu cases this fall, public health and education officials are encouraging parents and teachers to help stem the potential spread by keeping or sending students with flu-like symptoms home.
But should vigilance surrounding the pandemic virus mean having kids hunker down at the first mere sign of the sniffles? Not necessarily, says Saskatchewan’s deputy chief medical health officer.
Dr. Saqib Shahab says since September is a common time for dust allergies, individuals may experience a lot of sneezing, coughing and sore throat but no fever.
Generally, sneezes and a runny nose with clear discharge are more likely signs of an allergy, which isn’t infectious or contagious, or a non-influenza infection. Once you start getting a fever, that’s definitely a red flag, Shahab says.
“If your child has a definite fever, probably stay at home for the day or two that the fever takes to resolve,” he said from Regina. “It may be another influenza virus, it may be another respiratory virus. But especially once we see more H1N1 activity … that’s when really your child should not go to school if he has fever, sore throat or cough.”
Shahab said it may be difficult for some to make the distinction between symptoms. But for this year, he advises parents to play it safe.
“Generally in other years, if a child generally feels OK, even if he has a slight fever, the child may end up going to school,” he said. “What we’re requesting is that for this particular year, this fall, erring on the side of caution.”
“Parents whose children have allergies, they can usually just tell it’s just a recurrence of an allergy – lots of sneezing and runny nose and the itchiness of the eyes,” he added.
“We’re hoping that parents can make that distinction and keep the child home, especially when it’s sore throat, fever and cough, because these three are the most reliable indicators of H1N1.”
“Right now, the disease activity is low, but once we start seeing higher levels of disease activity, then with these three symptoms, we’re more likely to have pandemic H1N1 than something else.”
With two sons living with chronic asthma, Michelle Redway-Morris won’t hesitate to keep her kids home for a day or two if needed to allow time for their medications to work.
Zombie logic
Ottawa researchers study flesh-eating fiction for answers
A number of articles surfaced Aug. 18 about a study conducted by a professor and team of students concerning the outcomes and preventative possibilities of a zombie attack on the human population.
O.k., wait. Zombies?
According to the Toronto Star report, University of Ottawa mathematics professor Robert Smith and three students from both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University “spent a month doing research consisting mainly of watching zombie movies and playing zombie video games.”
While this sounds like an extremely awesome way to “conduct research,” I was a bit skeptical on its credibility.
Reading on, however, I learn this research was then used to create mathematical models to conclude whether or not the human race could survive a zombie plague and incorporated it into a paper entitled: “”When Zombies Attack!: Mathematical Modelling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection.”
On top of narrowing the zombie ‘type’ they used for their model to the “slow” kind (Phew, the infection-ridden, speedy buggers from 28 Days Later still give me nightmares), the team took into account the different incubation and spread of ‘zombification’ times across a population that vary from countless zombie movie plots to games.
Now, to anyone who’s watched Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, heck, even Shaun of the Dead, a million times and watched their dedicated group of friends team up to play Left 4 Dead more than is recommended for good health, you’d know the chances of making it out alive are slim — and especially if you remember to watch the credits for Zach Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.
Not surprisingly, this is what the researchers discovered as well.
The study concluded that the only way to rid the world of zombies (hypothetically, of course) is 10 consecutive days of military strikes.
Great. I’m thoroughly amused. But where are they going with this?
The research paper, according to the article: “Takes a decidedly lighthearted approach to exploring serious, real-world infection rates.”
In the wake of an ongoing swine flu pandemic that joins a long list of deadly viruses, including the recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), studies contributing to fighting the spread of infectious diseases could be significant life-saving strategies. However, I don’t think I’ll hold my breath if the solution for a zombie-like pandemic is military annihilation of all infected beings.
Interesting, though, is the idea we can look into popular culture and movie magic — literally figments of our own imaginations — to gleam ideas for real life problems. Though zombies fall on the extreme side, examining statistical models on how to fight infection (fictional or real) may provide the answers we need, and therefore, is a step in the right direction.
Now, if only someone would start studying Ferris Bueller to figure out how to get kids to stop cutting class.
- photo by quixado
France targets schools in fight against swine flu
If three students in a class or social group fall ill, entire school will be closed for six days
France will launch a huge swine flu information and prevention campaign once schools begin reopening at the end of the month, authorities said Tuesday.
Officials will distribute 12 million posters to parents and students across the country of 63 million people, or roughly to every fifth person, Education Minister Luc Chatel told reporters.
Authorities will also instruct school communities on preventive hygienic measures, such as wiping one’s mouth and nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing, washing hands regularly and avoiding contact with sick people.
“My responsibility … is to inform, explain and assure the whole education community,” Chatel said. He added that that government’s goal was to make sure the public is alerted and warned about the swine flu threat, but was not panicking and “dramatizing” the issue.
Chatel reiterated the authorities’ intention to order entire schools closed if as few as three students in one class, or three students in one school who share lessons or eat lunch in the same cafeteria, fall ill with the flu. Schools will be reopened after six days and a thorough cleaning, he said. Such closures will be determined by local authorities on a case-by-case basis.
In case numerous schools are closed, lessons will be broadcast on state television and radio to help students keep up, Chatel said.
Chatel also said authorities have no plans so far to launch an obligatory, country-wide vaccination campaign for school children, saying that parents could opt to vaccinate their children individually.
France has had more than 690 confirmed cases of swine flu. One death has been linked to the virus, but authorities say the patient – a 14-year-old girl – also suffered from a number of other conditions. Experts expect more outbreaks once the school year resumes and the regular flu season starts in the fall.
Laurence Danon, spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, said France was well prepared to cope with the virus and had enough anti-viral drugs in case of a major outbreaks. She would not give more details.
The U.S. government is pushing to keep schools open, recommending earlier this month that schools only close if large numbers of students have swine flu.
- The Canadian Press
Schools fine-tune emergency plans in case of H1N1 outbreak
“The worst of part of any of these health crises is not the disease itself,” says doctor
As students stock up on school supplies and get ready to hit the books this fall, post-secondary institutions are making preparations of their own, fine-tuning their action plans in the event that swine flu cases surface on campus.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says that under the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan, all large institutions – including colleges and universities – are encouraged to have pandemic preparedness plans.
But when it comes to emergency planning, universities are hardly starting from scratch. In fact, many are tailoring existing strategies to address a potential flu outbreak and the possible ripple effects that could have an impact on school life.
Both Montreal’s McGill University and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia had much of their planning done to address another strain of flu – H5N1, or avian flu.
Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, director of student health services at McGill, said the university has been much more active since the H1N1 epidemic was observed in Mexico this past spring and later declared a pandemic.
Tellier said there are weekly planning meetings involving individuals representing various groups including human resources, student representatives and communications staff.
They are preparing documents to go out to students arriving in residence telling them what to do if there is an issue surrounding H1N1, how to take care of themselves and where to seek care. In addition, a website is being developed to provide information to students, parents and staff.
“The worst part of any of these health crises is not the disease itself,” said Tellier. “It’s really dealing with the population around who become very anxious and very stressed and that you have to … constantly clear up issues and matters on an ongoing basis, and that’s where a lot of your energy is spent.”
“If you’re able to prepare a lot of this ahead of time prior to an episode occurring… then it makes it easier.”
Part of the contingency planning also addresses what to do if faculty or staff are out of commission. Every unit is being asked to identify essential services and key individuals and to ensure they have trained backups for their positions, Tellier said. Professors are also being encouraged to record lectures or organize material for students to access if they can’t attend class, he said.
Apollonia Cifarelli, director of environmental health and safety at Simon Fraser University, said educating people on infection control has been their primary focus.
In addition to spreading the word about sneezing etiquette and proper hygiene techniques, they are encouraging faculty to do the same by providing information to students and making them aware of health services on campus.
Students in residence are being provided with personal containers of gel or sanitizer to further drive home the message about hygiene. Dorm leaders or community advisers would act as the eyes and ears of the floor and as a link to administration, providing updates if necessary if students get sick.
An area has been identified where those living on campus would be relocated if they fall ill. Cifarelli said it isn’t a quarantine, but rather an area where they can keep an eye on students and provide essential support.
“People are infectious two days before they show symptoms, so quarantining people is really not going to do a heck of a lot,” she said from Burnaby, B.C.
Medical care would fall to health services, but if symptoms are more severe, it might be recommended that students be transferred to a hospital, she said.
The university also has a mass communication system in place to send out messages by phone, email or text if necessary, although it is only put in use in the face of an imminent emergency, Cifarelli said.
“We are reminding people this is really, in essence, this is the flu – it’s the seasonal flu,” she added. “The main difference is that we have no vaccine for this flu at this point in time, and we do know that because younger people have not had a lot of time to develop immunities to viruses they might be more vulnerable.”
Swine flu prompts “social distancing” campaign at Dalhousie
Keep a one-metre distance from other students, says university
If Dalhousie University has its way, frosh week just won’t be the same this fall. Concern about swine flu is prompting school officials to tell students to keep their distance from one another, reports the CBC.
To keep H1N1, which has been to shown to strike young adults in particular, at bay, Dal is advising students to avoid shaking hands, hugging and kissing, and to hold meetings over the phone. Students however, remain skeptical that the “social distancing” campaign will keep them from hanging out with their friends.
Posters are going up around Dalhousie’s campus to remind students how to stay healthy.
Manufacturing ferment
For a real laugh, sometimes you have to stray from the comics. Yesterday, I found mine in The Globe and Mail’s Health & Fitness section. “How to talk to your kids about swine flu.” Gold. Yes, I’m being shortsighted. Yes, I’m being insensitive. But when an issue is pushed that far, it’s almost seducing a [...]
For a real laugh, sometimes you have to stray from the comics. Yesterday, I found mine in The Globe and Mail’s Health & Fitness section.
“How to talk to your kids about swine flu.” Gold.
Yes, I’m being shortsighted. Yes, I’m being insensitive. But when an issue is pushed that far, it’s almost seducing a smile. Tell me you can take the Dr. Phil special Dr. Phil House: Heroin Twins seriously, and I’ll retract my comment.
But since everyone’s doing it, I suppose I’ll hop on the bandwagon and come up with my own list of helpful hints to deal with the growing pandemic.
How to talk to your kids about swine flu
By Robyn Urback
- First off, it’s H1N1, jerks.
- Wash your hands.
- Lysol the area, then sit your child down.
- Tell your child you have something important to talk to him/her about. Best to start crying from the get-go. That way, your child will know you’re serious and won’t get distracted by toys or games or other frivolous things three-year-olds busy themselves with as they bask in ignorant global disconnect.
- Wash your hands.
- Explain the history of global pandemics, paying special attention to the 1918 Spanish Flu.
- Detail the molecular breakdown of the H1N1 virus.
- Now it’s time for the nitty-gritty. Glaze over nothing. Pair positives with negatives to ensure smooth reception. For example, tell your child that a vaccine is in the works, then say that camp/daycare/play dates/day trips/vacations/going outside has been canceled.
- If your child gets upset, coddle with your words. Physical contact spreads contaminants.
- Wash your hands.
There you have it! Now get inside, and enjoy your summer.
- photo courtesy of Talea Miller, NewsHour
Swine Flu plays nice with the elderly?
H1N1 virus targets young adults, universities preparing for rapid spread
Two more swine flu case detected at University Games
Unidentified athletes are from Argentina and Uganda
Serbian health officials say two more cases of swine flu have been diagnosed at the World University Games.
Officials said Monday the two unidentified athletes are from Argentina and Uganda. Last week, an Australian swimmer was diagnosed with the virus.
Several people who were in contact with the infected athletes are being isolated to prevent the spread of the disease at the multidisciplinary games, which are attended by about 8,500 athletes and officials.
Since last month, 21 swine flu cases have been recorded in Serbia.
- The Canadian Press
Little piggies on campus
This little piggie has an infectious disease…
Flu scare nibbles at Alberta’s university enrolment
Some international groups cancel trips to the province, universities not concerned
According to The Calgary Herald, this year’s H1N1 virus is causing some international students to cancel their plans to study at Alberta post-secondary schools this summer.
Alberta Advanced Education says there has been a decline in student enrolment in international summer programming, but says the drop isn’t significant enough to warrant government. Early indications are that fall programs will not be affected, according to an spokesperson for the department
At Mount Royal College, approximately 60 students from Mexico and China recently cancelled plans to attend the campus in June and July due to the H1N1 virus.
“For this year, it’s just one of those unfortunate world events over which we have no control,” says Lorna Smith, director of the school’s international education program.
“The universities have to be very cautious and risk-averse because they’re responsible for the lives of students to the parents,” she says. “I think that’s why they tend to be more cautious when they’re sponsoring an exchange program.”
As of last Monday there were 171 confirmed cases of swine flu in the province, and one person in northern Alberta has died.
According to the Herald, other universities are seeing international students cancel summer plans. At the University of Lethbridge, a group of 25 students from a high school in Japan won’t be heading to the city this July.
Although the University Calgary did cancel a sociology field trip to Mexico, the school says it hasn’t seen any discernible drop in summer international student enrolment
Hong Kong closes kindergartens, primary schools
At least 12 students have swine flu, government confirms
Hong Kong’s government on Thursday ordered all kindergartens and primary schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for swine flu in the territory’s first local cluster of cases.
Territory leader Donald Tsang said 12 students at a local secondary school tested positive for the virus and that authorities have not been able to immediately determine how they contracted the sickness, indicating it likely has spread locally within the community.
“We are unable to identify the source of infection. This means they are indigenous cases,” Tsang told reporters after a three-hour urgent meeting with senior health and education officials.
The new infections bring the total number of cases in the city to 60.
At least one of the infected students, a 16-year-old girl who tested positive late Wednesday, had not travelled overseas recently, according to a government statement. All the patients are in isolation in hospitals.
Tsang said schools will be closed starting Friday to deter the spread of the virus, as authorities shift their preparedness level from “containment” to “mitigation.”
“If we don’t suspend classes, transmission among students and the community will spread quickly,” Tsang said.
Though the infections have been among secondary school students, Tsang said only kindergartens, primary schools and special education schools are being closed for now.
The closure came a day after Hong Kong confirmed the first domestic transmission of swine flu in a 55-year-old man. The man, who has no recent travel history, is believed to have caught the infection at a cocktail party from a 20 year-old man earlier confirmed with swine flu after returning from London.
The closure affects nearly 510,640 students at 1,626 schools, according to enrolment figures from the 2008-2009 academic year.
- The Associated Press
Grant MacEwan student diagnosed with swine flu
Students and staff were notified of the case by e-mail
According to a report in the Edmonton Journal, a student at one of Grant MacEwan College’s Alberta campuses has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus. Staff and students were notified of the case by e-mail.
“MacEwan continues to remind students, faculty and staff to follow recommended procedures such as handwashing, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, checking with your doctor if you have any flu-like symptoms and staying at home if you are ill,” read the e-mail.
The school says it has installed sanitizers in various locations at all four campuses and is disinfecting surfaces more frequently. The majority of the school’s classes are done until fall.
Quarantined UMontreal students are released
Program director says it’ll be “beer and ping pong ’til the early hours”
A group of Universite de Montreal students quarantined in China over flu fears were likely the last to know the restrictions on travel had been lifted.
David Ownby, the university’s East Asian studies program director, says newspapers reported the quarantine had been lifted well before the information trickled down to students.
He says the information passed from provincial authorities to the Canadian embassy in Beijing, to the partner university in Changchun before finally reaching their teacher chaperon at the Jingyue Hotel where the group has been holed up since Saturday.
When Ownby spoke with the teacher early Wednesday, he had not yet told the 27 students as it wasn’t until about 8 p.m. local time that he even received conformation.
Originally, the university said 29 students were in quarantined in China. It was later revealed that two of the students had not yet arrived.
Ownby assumes it’ll be “beer and ping pong ’til the early hours.”
The students are expected to leave the hotel around 8:30 a.m. local time Thursday and head to North East University of Changchun where they will take language courses until mid-July.
Ownby said the decision to end the quarantine was made after the provincial health authority sent doctors into the hotel for the first time to examine the students.
Before that, the students were taking their own temperatures and recording the information, he said.
Health officials decided to include the time the students had spent travelling to China as part of their time in quarantine, Ownby said.
“They decided they would count the beginning of the period of concern to be their departure from Canada,” Ownby said.
Ownby speculated pressure from the Canadian government likely played a role.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Embassy in Beijing issued a “diplomatic note” to the Chinese Foreign Ministry asking for an explanation for why the students were placed under medical surveillance even though they were not at risk for the H1N1 flu strain.
U.S. university closes due to possible swine flu case
Western Oregon University student tests positive for influenza A
Western Oregon University is closed today after a student tested positive for influenza A at the Student Health Center. The campus will remain closed until Monday with a longer closure possible.
Western Oregon University president John Minahan, in a statement released on the university website, announced the cancellation of all activities at the 5,000 student public college. The closure includes the university library and athletic centre.
The university is awaiting test results from the Center for Disease Control prior to deciding if the campus will reopen next week.
