Aug 31, 2009 6:17 pm US/Central
Suspected H1N1 Cases At Local College Campus
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Loyola University student Gabrielle Pare fears she may have the H1N1 virus after waking up with flu-like symptoms.
CBS
Medical masks could be the hottest fashion accessory on college campuses this fall. Those masks have nothing to do with looking good. They're all about staying healthy in the H1N1 era. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports that there are already presumed cases on one local college campus.
Classes just started last Monday at Loyola University, and the students became sick on Tuesday and Wednesday. In light of the suspected cases, the university has launched a full campaign to try and control the spread of the H1N1 virus.
"I was just really achy, and kind of coughing and stuff like that," said student Gabrielle Pare.
Pare is concerned she may have the H1N1 virus. Her concern is justified.
The H1N1 virus has already hit the Loyola campus. Two students were diagnosed last week with presumed cases.
So when Pare woke up this morning with flu-like symptoms, she came straight to the campus clinic to be tested.
"Nothing is confirmed, but just to take it easy and not go to class," Pare said.
The director of Loyola's Wellness Center says she is concerned that if two students are infected, that number could escalate.
"I'm concerned that the numbers could escalate, absolutely, but I think we have to do everything we can to help prevent that as much as possible," said Diane Asaro, Director of Loyola Wellness Center.
Prevention means making sure the university's 15,000 students are practicing good hygiene.
They're blogging the message, tweeting it, e-mailing it and putting updates on screens that are located in 30 buildings around campus, including the dormitories.
"I think it's appropriate. Some people do get fearful about it and I think keeping open communication about it, and not trying to hide anything, is very important," said student Candice Jones.
Perhaps the biggest prevention is the H1N1 vaccine, which the university plans to offer for free to every student.
"The more you have people in close groups, the more likely it is to spread," Asaro said. "This group is listed as a priority group for the CDC and I think we want to take that seriously."
At this point, the university doesn't know when it will get the H1N1 vaccine, but the plan is to offer it at the campus clinic.
As for the two students with the suspected H1N1 virus, university officials say they have recovered and are back in class.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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