Swine Flu Update

By: Rachel King

Posted: 11/25/09

In case you've been living in a bubble, you are hereby informed that the influenza season is upon us. In particular, you may have heard of the virus du jour, the H1N1 virus, colloquially dubbed "swine flu." While in many ways H1N1 is very similar to the seasonal flu, there are several key differences between the two. Getting the facts on swine flu straight will help you stay healthy this season.

The disease has spread swiftly throughout the United States, prompting President Obama, at the end of October, to declare it a national emergency. This new status means that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, now has the authority to define new, temporary regulations that will alleviate overcrowding in emergency rooms and prevent the spread of disease in hospitals.

On the individual scale, though, swine flu is not as scary as the public's reactions make it seem. The main concerns about swine flu are how quickly it spreads and that it affects healthy adults nearly as much as the elderly, the chronically ill, and children. However, swine flu is preventable. Even if you do get sick, as long as you are treated properly you probably will have nothing to worry about.

Swine flu manifests with symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu. Besides fatigue, sore throat, coughing, and sneezing, a sick person may experience muscle aches, and chills. One of the hallmarks of the H1N1 is a high fever (over 100° Fahrenheit). Also, swine flu can sometimes be characterized by breathing difficulties. This is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions (for example, asthma or severe allergies), and should be addressed immediately. In addition, people with compromised immune systems should be particularly vigilant, since the virus can escalate quickly and dangerously if the patient can't properly fight off the infection.

If you suspect you have swine flu-or seasonal flu-go to the doctor. That's right. Skip class. Tell the professor you can't make the meeting. Give the movie tickets away. The best way to recover from swine flu is through treatment and rest. If you catch the virus in the first 48 hours, your doctor may prescribe Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that can reduce the duration of swine flu by one to two days.

It is also important that ill people stay away from others in order to prevent the spread of the disease. If the Health Center feels that it is necessary, sick Stern College for Women students will be assigned a dorm room where they can be quarantined for a few days. This not only gives students a chance to rest and recover completely, but also limits their roommates' exposure to the virus.

Preventing swine flu is very similar to preventing the spread of any disease. Wash your hands frequently, especially after being in a public place, and always before eating. Purell dispensers have sprouted like weeds in the school building - take advantage of them! Use them after typing on the school computers, handling equipment in the gym, or even after pushing elevator buttons. It's also important to stay in good general health, by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. In addition, vaccines are offered for both the seasonal and swine flu on the Stern campus, for $18 and $5, respectively. It is recommended that every student receive both vaccines, which can be given as a shot or a nasal spray. There is a small risk of side effects from the vaccine, such as fatigue, runny nose, coughing or headache for 1-2 days after receiving the vaccine. People who have already had the swine flu should not take the vaccine.

As you may have noticed, the Yeshiva University's Health Department is taking student health very seriously in order to prevent an outbreak of the disease. In addition to the Purell dispensers and vaccines, little reminders have popped up around campus, nagging students to wash their hands, cover their mouths when coughing, and to stay at home when sick. Furthermore, the Office of Student Affairs has dubbed November "Health Awareness Month." Check your e-mail regularly to find tips on how to stay healthy at Stern.

Whether you are sick or not, you can find more information on YU's Health Alerts Blog, www.yu.edu/healthalerts, as well as on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu. Understand your risks, do your part to stay healthy, and flu season will fly by before you know it.

Rachel King, a junior, is a biochemistry major at Stern. She's had both her vaccines, and can't get enough of the Purell dispensers