Good hygiene important for CMU students to avoid swine flu

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With flu season approaching, the dreaded spread of swine flu continues to drift from carrier to carrier throughout the state.

Local health officials are preparing Central Michigan for the possibility of dealing with both influenza cases, and the H1N1 virus is still a serious concern for people who live in tight quarters and frequent confined areas where germs can harvest.

Those two common areas are residence halls and classrooms, said Dr. Robert Graham, medical director of the Central Michigan District Health Department. College students are at risk, he said, and they need to be cautious and keep high personal hygiene.

“Germs can easily be transferred in close proximity, and that’s exactly what college students are prone to,” Graham said. “As expensive as college is today, avoiding influenza not only makes good health sense, but also good economic sense. Students need to stay aware of their health. It’s really that simple.”

There have been 3,297 confirmed and probable cases of flu-like illnesses reported in 2009. Of that, 10 died of an H1N1-related death: Three each in Oakland and Macomb counties and one in Detroit, Eaton, Jackson and Saginaw Counties, according to a report on michigan.gov.

The report shows Isabella County has had 26 cases so far this year. Other area counties have far less: Gratiot, zero; Clare, five; Midland, seven; Mecosta, 11.

“We are still seeing reports of people with influenza-like illnesses from doctors,” Graham said. “Unless a person is hospitalized or a woman is pregnant, we are not testing to see between swine flu and regular flu.”

Student concerns

Unlike the regular flu, the youngest- and oldest-aged people are the most susceptible to H1N1. College students are in this crowd, said Dr. Sarah Yonder, physician at University Health Services.

She said because Central Michigan University students frequent the Student Activity Center, Charles V. Park Library and living spaces, there is a higher risk of spreading the virus.

Every student has to be more aware of their daily hygiene, she said, as most students will come down with some form of the flu this fall.

She said once students are sick to use tissue and, if no tissue is available, to sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow. It will help to control the virus from spreading. Other ways to counter the flu are using soap and water, eating healthfully and getting an average of eight hours of sleep each night.

Yonder said there are six symptoms that have been identified with swine flu: Cough, congestion, body aches, fatigue, headaches and fever. She said some patients have had diarrhea and vomiting.

“You won’t have all of these, but all you need is a few to know that you could very well have swine flu,” Yonder said. “Students need to have plenty of fluids and rest for a week before worrying if it’s H1N1. If that doesn’t seem to work, come see a doctor.

“People just need to be more vigilant, more cautious about general health, and especially when dealing with swine flu.”