Loyola's Health Center prepares campus to weather H1N1 influenza
Maria Pia Negro
Issue date: 9/8/09 Section: News
The H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, will be a concern this flu season. The 2009 H1N1 is a type of new flu that originated a pandemic, which means it affects a wide geographic area, during last spring's flu season. The first cases in the U.S. occurred in April 2009.
Similar to the regular seasonal flu viruses, 2009 H1N1 can cause mild to severe illness and, in some cases, death. This type of H1N1 spreads in the same way as the seasonal flu, by direct contact or droplets, which occur when people with influenza cough and sneeze nearby. The Maryland Department of Health has reported this year 166 H1N1 flu hospitalizations and 7 deaths in the state.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the situation of the H1N1 flu for this upcoming fall and winter cannot be predicted, though there is a chance more communities will be affected by it in the fall than were affected during the spring and summer months. If this is the case, the CDC will recommend additional strategies to control the spread of H1N1.
Director of Loyola's Health Center Jeanne Lombardi said that their plan is to focus on the prevention of this flu at Loyola. She does not expect a more severe outbreak of H1N1 compared to last season, but she also said that there is a crisis committee that has put "a pandemic plan in place."
"[In case anything happens], we are prepared to handle it," she said.
There is currently no vaccine available against 2009 H1N1. The vaccine still needs to pass medical trials and should be released this fall before regular flu season, which lasts from late November to early December.
"The Health Center has pre-ordered the vaccine for the H1N1 influenza," said Lombardi.
Once the vaccine is available, it will first be given to high risk people with underlying health conditions. This group of people includes, but is not limited to, persons with the following conditions: pulmonary disease (such as asthma), renal, hepatic, neurologic, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Pregnant woman, younger people and health care personnel will be given priority as well.
Similar to the regular seasonal flu viruses, 2009 H1N1 can cause mild to severe illness and, in some cases, death. This type of H1N1 spreads in the same way as the seasonal flu, by direct contact or droplets, which occur when people with influenza cough and sneeze nearby. The Maryland Department of Health has reported this year 166 H1N1 flu hospitalizations and 7 deaths in the state.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the situation of the H1N1 flu for this upcoming fall and winter cannot be predicted, though there is a chance more communities will be affected by it in the fall than were affected during the spring and summer months. If this is the case, the CDC will recommend additional strategies to control the spread of H1N1.
Director of Loyola's Health Center Jeanne Lombardi said that their plan is to focus on the prevention of this flu at Loyola. She does not expect a more severe outbreak of H1N1 compared to last season, but she also said that there is a crisis committee that has put "a pandemic plan in place."
"[In case anything happens], we are prepared to handle it," she said.
There is currently no vaccine available against 2009 H1N1. The vaccine still needs to pass medical trials and should be released this fall before regular flu season, which lasts from late November to early December.
"The Health Center has pre-ordered the vaccine for the H1N1 influenza," said Lombardi.
Once the vaccine is available, it will first be given to high risk people with underlying health conditions. This group of people includes, but is not limited to, persons with the following conditions: pulmonary disease (such as asthma), renal, hepatic, neurologic, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Pregnant woman, younger people and health care personnel will be given priority as well.
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