According to the Plymouth State website, there were no reported cases of H1N1 on campus this week, but there has been one report of flu-like symptoms at Health Services. This is congruent with the Center for Disease Control’s assessment of the state of New Hampshire, as it is still the only state to not have a regional or widespread outbreak.
The number of people who are reporting flu-like symptoms to their doctors has been steadily increasing over the last five weeks, however the number of hospitalizations are “similar to or lower than seasonal influenza hospitalization rates,” according to the CDC. PSU is still preparing for the worst. According to the PSU website, “On a local level, this Wednesday PSU hosted a training session for Regional Health Officers and Emergency Management Directors regarding preparing for large scale public health emergencies, outbreaks and mass vaccination clinics. With this training, and other recent activities, PSU continues to maintain an active role in the Regional Public Health planning process.” The H1N1 vaccine has yet to be released and, as such, there are no known distribution centers for the vaccine yet. The locations will be released as soon as the vaccine is available to the public in mid-October. The vaccine will first be distributed to those at the most risk, and filter down quickly to the masses. The distribution plan emphasizes, “it is not expected that there will be a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, but there will be limited release early in the flu season.” As the vaccine becomes available, there will be a free clinic open to all students, faculty and staff, however that may not be until later in the fall. However, flu shots for influenza should be available within the next few weeks. The PSU administration is continuing to monitor the H1N1 situation on campus. Updates are available on the PSU homepage. There is currently no H1N1 testing being performed on campus, but symptoms are like those of the influenza virus and include fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and muscle aches, and fatigue. In some cases, patients also experience diarrhea and vomiting. If any student suspects that they have H1N1, they should call Health Services rather than walking in to make an appointment. PSU will work to make the best arrangements possible for the ill student and their roommate to form the best course of action. In order to prevent illness from spreading on campus, the administration is urging the student body to follow the C.O.U.G.H protocols, including washing hands often, sleeping enough and eating well. More information on H1N1 protocols can be found online from the NH Department of Health and Human Service, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.