By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Officials at area colleges and universities say they haven’t had any reported cases of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, but steps are in place if they do.
Catawba College’s health center and Student Affairs Department have ordered portable hand sanitizers that will be placed around campus. Campus health officials are encouraging students, faculty and staff to use the sanitizers, even though no cases of flu have been reported so far.
The sanitizers are attached to a pole that can be moved to any location on campus, said college spokeswoman Tonia Black-Gold.
“You can put them where you want them,” she said.
The Student Affairs Department is also preparing kits to be placed in each classroom that include tissues and wall-mounted hand sanitizers.
All faculty and staff will receive e-mails this week to update them about the H1N1 virus. All resident advisers will conduct information sessions on their respective dorm halls.
The school plans informational meetings on campus to give faculty and staff more details.
Dan Sullivan, dean of students, has indicated the college will purchase the flu vaccine and make it available to all of its students for free.
The college will require students who have swine flu to stay in their dorm room. If a student’s roommate has been exposed to the flu, both will remain in the room for an as yet unspecified incubation period.
The college is also creating a link to its Web site that will contain information about H1N1 and seasonal flu.
The Web site will include prevention and care.
“If there is something that would occur this would be something parents and students could access information,” Black-Gold said.
Postcards will be mailed this week that will provide information to evening class students and parents about the site.
For more information, visit www.catawba.edu/flu.
Hood Theological Seminary
Many of the college’s students are commuters and the students do not share living quarters, said President Albert Aymer.
Some students do stay on campus, but they are in rooms by themselves, he said.
He said students do share one meal together. The college has provided hand sanitizers throughout campus.
“Thank God we have not had any instances of any (outbreaks),” Aymer said.
Livingstone College
There have been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, but some students have presented cold-like symptoms, said college spokesman State Alexander.
Several months ago, the college developed a plan that included making certain students follow the recommended hygiene practices such as covering their mouths when coughing, sneezing into their elbow and washing their hands regularly.
“We asked students not to come to class if they exhibited signs of the H1N1 virus, but instead report immediately to the campus health department. Also to limit their contact with other students, professors and campus staff,” Alexander said.
If the college has a confirmed case, that particular student would be quarantined in the campus health center or remain in a dorm room by themselves. If there are several cases, the college would likely house those who are sick in the hospitality event center.
Pfeiffer University
Shortly after the new semester began, a few students presented with H1N1 flu-like symptoms and those students elected to return to their home state, officials said.
There have not been any students who have remained on campus that were confirmed to have the flu, said Kathy Odell, director of human resources.
Those students chose to return home. However, if students remain on campus the university has asked them to isolate themselves, said Natasha Suber, director of communications.
“We do want them to notify their roommate or their resident assistants. We will check on them and have a specific menu like Jell-O or soup delivered to them,” Suber.
The important thing is students self-isolate themselves.
Odell said the roommate would have the option to stay in the room or be placed in another room.
“Most of the time, by the time you are sick the roommate is already exposed,” she said.
The university has a plan to place large numbers of sick people into separate housing.
Dr. Chuck Ambrose, Pfeiffer president, sent e-mails to students and the university posted flyers around campus that give students steps to prevent illness.
There is also a hand sanitizer station in the campus dining hall.
The university has provided a place on its Web site where students, faculty and parents can go for more information, www.pfeiffer.edu. There is a link at the bottom of the page for H1N1 flu information.