Students and H1N1 mingle on campus

Melanie A. Staley
Sept. 25, 2009
2:10pm

This article addresses changes in university students' habits across the US since H1N1. With the exception of using hand sanitizer and washing their hands more often, most students have changed their behavior very little. Students do not seem to be as worried about this new flu strain as parents, faculty, and administration. Although the article reports two student deaths from complications with H1N1 since the beginning of the semester, the majority of students who have contracted the virus have recovered in good time and continued the school year as any other. One student interviewed even stated that he felt the media had been using scare tactics against the public, and, in his experience, H1N1 was no different than the usual strain of flu.

Even though many students are treating H1N1 with the usual confidence and nonchalance known to college students, there is increased concern when students show signs of illness such as coughing, sniffling, or the beginnings of a fever. Some colleges, such as Emory University in Atlanta, GA, have even created voluntary isolation units for students, and student health services across the nation are keeping in touch with students experincing flu-like symptoms. The greatest challenge to these schools seems to be preventing panic while keeping its students informed of the risks of H1N1.

This article sums up fairly well the experience most college students have had with H1N1 thus far in the semester. I know that my own habits have changed little, except perhaps an increased willingness to stay home whenever I am feeling unwell. I pay closer attention to my immune system and wash my hands between classes. The majority of my professors have encouraged my classes on a weekly basis that if we should exhibit any flu-like symptoms, especially fever, we should stay home, take care of ourselves, and keep him/her up to date on our progress. I think we have all felt the tension when someone comes to class coughing, sniffling, and generally looking like they should be in bed. We worry about missing classes and catching a prolonged or severe illness. I can imagine that college students across the globe, especially those living in dorms, are feeling much the same way. It's nothing compared to the worries of parents with younger, school-aged children, but that also is a shared trend across nations.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/22/h1n1.flu.college.students/index.html