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On top of the usual concerns associated with the return to classes, this fall university administrators are also preparing for an increase in the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases on campus.
The virus, which first appeared in a handful of students over the summer, disproportionately targets healthy young people—prompting the university to take special precautions with the 2,200 students who have returned to residences.
“We’ve installed hand sanitizers in all of the residence washrooms and at the entrances to the residence cafeteria,” says Jim Dunsdon, UVic’s associate vice-president student affairs. “There’s signage reminding residents of the importance of hand washing posted throughout the buildings. All of the incoming residence students will be provided with personal bottles of hand sanitizer.”
Seven self-contained rooms in the Craigdarroch housing complex have been set aside for students who become ill and need to be isolated from the residence population. Students who have recovered from H1N1 are being recruited as volunteers to deliver food and liquids, if necessary, to these rooms.
“We’re also investigating the possibility of providing take-away meals for students who are ill but capable of caring for themselves in self-isolation,” adds Dunsdon.
The virus has shown an ability to worsen quickly in some cases and cause significant respiratory illness. Students in residence, and those living out in the community, are urged to identify a “flu buddy” early in the school year. “It’s a good idea to identify someone you can call if you feel ill and who can call you to check up on your status. The last thing we want is to have students trying to tough out the disease in isolation when they really should be seeking medical assistance.”
An H1N1 planning committee with members from throughout the campus has been meeting regularly throughout the summer to plan the university’s response to the virus. A website (www.uvic.ca/flu-update) was activated in August and is being continuously updated as more information becomes available.
University Health Services, often the first unit a student contacts, has extensive signage at its entrance advising students with flu-like symptoms to wait on one side of the waiting room. A separate entrance can be activated if traffic intensifies over the fall. Anyone identified as acutely ill will be taken to a high-ventilation room immediately.
“Many instructors already use course management systems that provide opportunities for online communication, posting of notes and assignments, and opportunities for course delivery and student discussion,” says UVic Associate Vice-President Academic Planning Katy Mateer, “and we’re encouraging instructors to consider using such systems this year if they aren’t already doing so. We are also asking instructors to think about how best to plan for student absences (or their own absence) due to illness in terms of flexibility around course assignments, exams, etc.”
Instructors are also being directed to waive physician confirmations of flu-like illness during the fall term if a student’s absence from class is less than two weeks.
The Public Health Agency of Canada advises people who are ill with H1N1 to limit their movement to mitigate the chance of infecting others. UVic Health Services is concerned that infected students who come to the clinic for their customary confirmation of illness could infect other students or staff.
“The primary means of mitigating the spread of this virus remains frequent hand washing and self-isolation if you are not feeling well,” says Richard Piskor, director of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. “UVic did acquire additional bottles of hand cleanser but, with only limited supplies, the bottles were allotted to areas of high student traffic. Other departments are advised to purchase bottles as part of their regular office supplies and staff may want to augment this with their own personal supply.”
Given that the H1N1 virus can survive on some surfaces for several hours or days, the Public Health Agency of Canada advises frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as phones, door handles and computer keyboards and accessories. “Unfortunately, the university doesn’t have the resources to increase janitorial services regular cleaning schedule to this level,” adds Piskor. “We’re asking staff to clean their own high-touch areas twice daily using regular household cleaner. Frequent cleansing remains the most effective method of destroying the virus.”
Currently, there are no special directives to individuals who are considered at a higher risk to develop complications from H1N1 such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems. UVic is working closely with the Vancouver Island Health Authority to ensure the university’s response is consistent with what is being advised.
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