Over 700 students have been treated for flu-like symptoms, normal flu season not even here yet
By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Despite trying to learn from other universities examples, setting up information hot lines and installing sanitation measures – even handing out pocket-sized bottles of hand sanitizers at a football game – Eastern Washington University is still getting hit hard by the flu bug.
Whether any of the cases are of the feared H1N1 variety isn't known since only specific testing can identify the strain. But local health officials aren't chancing it, taking the outbreak seriously and doing what they can to combat it.
EWU's Health, Wellness and Prevention Services director, Michelle Pingree, said based on information from their partner clinic, Rockwood/Cheney Medical Clinic, it's estimated over 700 students have been treated at the clinic with influenza like symptoms since school began in late September. Pingree cautioned the numbers are estimated since some students may have gone to other health providers or not gone in at all.
“We don't know for sure, it's just an assumption on the providers part,” Pingree said. “It's a guess.”
If the model used by public schools of 10-15 percent of the student population infected with influenza is used, Pingree said Eastern's count would be anywhere from 1,000-1,500 students, based on fall enrollment figures of 10,504. Even with this number it doesn't appear Eastern is being hit as hard as other institutions where larger percentages of students have been sickened.
“It's not 5,000, or we'd notice,” Pingree added.
Rockwood/Cheney Medical practice manager Colleen Kirk confirmed Pingree's estimates. Kirk said the clinic has averaged seeing about 100 students per week with flu-like symptoms, although this figure might not be accurate since other flu-like diagnoses are not included.
“It's not perfect,” Kirk said. “We could easily say we're seeing another half (as many of the average) again.”
Sources at Eastern indicated that a number of faculty members had been sidelined by the flu as well. The Cheney Free Press was waiting on confirmation numbers from university officials at press time.
Both Pingree and Kirk emphasized that they know of no one treated for flu-like symptoms that has been determined to have H1N1. One of the reasons is the diagnosis keeps changing.
Kirk said originally if someone had a positive influenza swab it was presumed they had H1N1. Now, the presumption is made on flu-like symptoms. Also, the testing for H1N1 is done at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, and at a very few hospitals.
“It's a complicated picture, but basically, no one is doing an H1N1 test,” Kirk said.
Pingree said part of the problem is there is misinformation floating about regarding the flu. People need to practice basic health measures to prevent disease, such as regular hand washing, and Eastern has a link on their website for dealing with influenza, along with a hotline, 359-6900, for more information.
Eastern and Rockwood are also holding clinics this week around campus to inoculate students for the seasonal flu, and will have one at the Riverpoint Campus next Tuesday from 2-6 p.m. for students there. Kirk said the clinic has 1,200 doses for distribution.
“We really want them to take advantage of this,” she added.
EWU students and Rockwood patients calling a hot line (235-6151, 755-6520) have the option to speak with RNs who can provide diagnosis over the phone, helping keep them at home instead of coming and waiting hours to be seen at the clinic. They have also ordered the H1N1 vaccine – twice now – but Kirk said they are being told it can't be distributed here yet.
“I've never seen anything like this at this level,” Kirk, who has been at the Cheney clinic since 1991, said.
Pingree said while students and faculty have been out sick, influenza's impact on the university hasn't fully been felt yet. A real indication will come when finals roll around and students who have been sick or are sick inundate campus resources with requests for work at home or make up exams.
Then there's Christmas break, when students return home and mingle with others. That will be compounded by the fact that officially, Pingree and Kirk say, the flu season hasn't even started. The flu historically hits January through March.
“We still have that to look forward too,” Kirk said.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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