November 23, 2009
by Genevieve Jerome | Print Features Editor
City College Health Services has posted informational fliers around campus on avoiding infection in response to the growing threat of the H1N1 virus.
“We are trying to educate the campus in general,” said Jeff Christian, City College nurse. “We’ve done several presentations in several classrooms talking to the faculty as well as going to the faculty senate.”
Health Services will not be offering the H1N1 vaccine due to budget cuts, according to Christian. The regular flu vaccine was made available to students earlier this semester at a cost of $25, but only 13 students took advantage of the opportunity.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people in high risk groups are ages 65 and older, children under the age of five, pregnant women and anyone with chronic medical conditions such as asthma.
President Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency in October, and the Center for Disease Control’s latest Weekly Activity Report states that California has widespread activity.
“For every office they have hand sanitizer bottles and pamphlets in every bathroom,” said Ryan Castillo, international relations major. “Most people don’t die when they get it.”
According to the Health Services page on City College’s Web site, H1N1 is spread by breathing in infected air, as well as touching surfaces that have already been infected by the virus.
Symptoms are similar to those of the seasonal flu and include coughing, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, fever, chills and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.
“I try to be as healthy and careful as I can be,” said Laurie Carpio, a nursing student at City College. “I drink and eat healthy foods and wash my hands constantly.”
Health Services advises students to wash their hands frequently, be sure to get sufficient sleep, eat healthy, avoid smoking and exercise on a regular basis.
For more information about what City College is doing to prevent the spread of H1N1 virus, as well the upcoming H1N1 vaccination clinics, visit the Sacramento county public health page at: http://www.scc.losrios.edu/Documents/HealthCenter/PUB-H1N1-Clinic-Schedule-2009Oct29.pdf or the health alert page at: http://www.scc.losrios.edu/Current_Students/Student_Services/Health_Services/H1N1_Flu_Precaution_Update.htm.
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