Flu pandemic alarming
Kirkwood offers tips on how to avoid the recent outbreak crossing the nation
Cindy Petersen
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
Students at Kirkwood Community College are being asked to treat the swine flu pandemic as they would any other type of flu outbreak, according to Lori Jeppson, campus nurse.
Jeppson suggested that students and faculty wash their hands frequently, use anti-bacterial wash and lotions, coughing and sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue is not available and throwing used tissues into the trash.
"Try to avoid people who are sick. Also, people should stay home if they have a temperature over 100," she added.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of Wednesday 64 cases have been confirmed in the United States. It was reported Tuesday that a 23-month old toddler from Texas died from the virus after returning from Mexico with his family. A warning has been issued not to travel to Mexico where more than 2000 cases have been reported and 149 deaths have been attributed to the flu.
The CDC also reported the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4 on Tuesday. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause "community-level" outbreaks. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
According to CNN, the outbreak has been traced to a small boy, whose house is next to a large pig farm in Mexico. The report gave the symptoms of swine flu as feeling lethargic, coughing, sneezing, headaches, body aches, fever, chills and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. The report also indicated that eating properly handled pork and pork products cannot transmit swine flu.
Melissa Jensen, emergency services and energy director at Kirkwood, said the college would handle this situation like any other emergency if it gets to that level.
"We take our recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Department in cases such as these. We really have to wait and see how they will be treating the situation and go from there," she said.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that anyone who has travelled to the outbreak areas and develops flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately.
Jeppson suggested that students and faculty wash their hands frequently, use anti-bacterial wash and lotions, coughing and sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue is not available and throwing used tissues into the trash.
"Try to avoid people who are sick. Also, people should stay home if they have a temperature over 100," she added.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of Wednesday 64 cases have been confirmed in the United States. It was reported Tuesday that a 23-month old toddler from Texas died from the virus after returning from Mexico with his family. A warning has been issued not to travel to Mexico where more than 2000 cases have been reported and 149 deaths have been attributed to the flu.
The CDC also reported the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4 on Tuesday. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause "community-level" outbreaks. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
According to CNN, the outbreak has been traced to a small boy, whose house is next to a large pig farm in Mexico. The report gave the symptoms of swine flu as feeling lethargic, coughing, sneezing, headaches, body aches, fever, chills and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. The report also indicated that eating properly handled pork and pork products cannot transmit swine flu.
Melissa Jensen, emergency services and energy director at Kirkwood, said the college would handle this situation like any other emergency if it gets to that level.
"We take our recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Department in cases such as these. We really have to wait and see how they will be treating the situation and go from there," she said.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that anyone who has travelled to the outbreak areas and develops flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately.
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