By Jessie Hethcoat
If there's any doubt UP is taking the threat of swine flu seriously, consider this: Campus Ministry has stopped distributing Communion wine. The temporary ban on the shared "Eucharistic cup" is one of several precautions the university is taking to prevent an H1N1 virus outbreak."We're going to keep a cautionary attitude," said the Rev. Gary Chamberland, C.S.C, director of Campus Ministry, who announced the restriction to pastoral staff after discussing swine flu concerns with the officials from the Archdiocese of Portland and the UP Health Center, as well as the Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C, University President.The Centers for Disease Control estimates H1N1 could infect as much as 40 percent of the population nationwide. While medical experts generally do not consider swine flu more dangerous than "regular" seasonal flu, young adults are particularly vulnerable to swine flu.According to the Oregon Health Department, half of the approximately 85 Oregonians hospitalized with H1N1 so far were 29 and younger. Consequently, UP, like other schools and universities across the country, is gearing up prevention efforts. They include educating students and staff about precautions they should take, obtaining H1N1 vaccine for the University Health Center, and instituting changes in housekeeping and meal service.According to Paul Myers, director of the University Health Center, students and staff who want maximum protection should plan to get vaccinated for H1N1, as well as "regular" seasonal flu. That amounts to three shots: two for H1N1 (administered 21- 28 days apart) and one for seasonal flu. While the cost has not been determined, Myers recommends students get the shots even if their insurance does not cover them."Young people often ignore clinics, but we're trying to bump up interest," Myers said. "We just want to make sure that we've done what we can to educate people to protect themselves."Myers said he expects the University Health Center to have vaccines for seasonal flu available this month. Under normal circumstances, the University administers about 250 seasonal flu vaccines. Typically, they are administered to faculty, staff, nursing students and students with health conditions. This year, the university is working on attaining more vaccines to accommodate the expected higher demandHowever, the H1N1 vaccines won't begin arriving on campus until October, and in lots of only 100, Myers said. The Multnomah County Health Department is distributing the vaccine locally, including at UP. Because CDC officials say it's not certain how much H1N1 vaccine will be available or if it will arrive in time to stop a major outbreak, health agencies are redoubling efforts to remind the public about personal prevention habits, such as frequent hand-washing and covering your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throwing it in the trash.The CDC also recommends avoiding touching your mouth and eyes, and staying home if you get sick.Myers says the University Health Center is also emphasizing behavioral intervention. The goal is to limit the infection rate, so that rather than having nearly half the campus at home sick with the flu for a week or two, just 80 or so students and staff members are sick per month.According to the Centers for Disease Control, H1N1 can move quickly among people in close quarters, spreading the same way a cold virus does. While swine flu was initially associated with a virus in pigs, health officials say eating pork is not a risk factor. That myth continues to circulate.Sophomore Kristian Ingebretsen remembers when swine flu first became a national issue in the spring. "I was avoiding pork for a while because I thought it could carry swine flu, which is completely untrue," Ingebretsen said. "There's a lot of misinformation going around that can make people very afraid." Myers says getting good information out about prevention is key. The University Health Center's plan of action includes posted flyers and emails with information about staying healthy, and what to do if symptoms appear.According to Myers, campus housekeeping managers are developing an advanced rotation for surface cleaning, including more frequent cleaning of doorknobs. Hand sanitizers are now available in the residence halls as well. Bon Appetit is working out a system for transporting meals to sick students into the dorms.Myers urges at-risk students to identify themselves to the Health Center if they haven't already. They include students with diabetes, asthma, heart disease, immune compromising diseases, respiratory conditions and pregnant women.The Health Center asks students who are not at-risk to avoid coming to the Health Center if they contract the flu, seasonal or swine."When students who are healthy otherwise have flu-like symptoms, we want them to self-medicate," Myers said. "Although we do have Tamiflu and other antiviral medicines, they only lessen the severity of symptoms."However, the Health Center will have IV treatments available for students who become severely dehydrated from excessive vomiting or diarrhea.For students who live on campus, UP has decided to enact a "social isolation" policy. Rather than quarantine students, the University asks that students voluntarily stay away from other students in order to limit the spread of the disease. Students who contract swine flu will not be moved out of their residence hall.Once a student exhibits symptoms of swine flu, he or she has already been infected and contagious for 24 hours. So, the student's roommate and friends may already be infected without knowing it. For this reason, Myers advocates communication and cautiousness among students..But Myers also warns against stigmatizing students who become ill. When swine flu is contracted, he said, "we urge people to be compassionate. I fear people becoming afraid, and treating each other poorly as a result of the swine flu."Departments throughout UP are currently considering how to respond and what policies to implement should a pandemic hit campus. These include the academic policies for student absences."Whenever there's an issue that affects the University across the board, we all have to work together," the Rev. John Donato, C.S.C. said. "I think prudence says we must prepare for a more severe, dangerous situation. "As for the skeptics? I keep praying that they're right," he said.
