Flu season is just around the corner, and one thing is on everyone's mind: the new H1N1 virus.
Formerly known as "swine flu," the virus was introduced to humans in April 2009, creating a hysteria that, for the most part, has died off - until now.
"There have been cases of H1N1 in the area, but we haven't seen a patient with flu-like symptoms in weeks," said Melissa Bown, a nurse who specialized in infection prevention at Saratoga Hospital. "We are planning and getting ready for the upcoming flu season but we don't know what to expect yet."
The instances of sickness always rises in the fall and winter seasons when large masses of people are getting together in small areas (i.e. students in school and dorms) and people are spending less time outside and are breathing in recycled air that could contain germs.
While the H1N1 virus has the same symptoms as the typical flu, it is different because the virus strain is something that has never been exposed to humans.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe and while most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.
"What people need to understand is that the new H1N1 virus hasn't caused nearly as many deaths as the seasonal flu has each year," Bown said. "It is a new thread of a virus which will cause problems, but we all have to be cautious about each type of flu that is around."
The CDC states that each year in the United States an average of 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. More than 90 percent of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalizations occur in people older than 65.
The H1N1 virus has not had a large occurrence in the elderly population; people under 25 years of age and pregnant women seem to be hit the hardest. This could mean that the older population may have some antibodies already in their system against the virus.
As students are readying to move into the dorms at Skidmore College, college officials have been readying for a possible outbreak of the new virus.
"What's most important is that we are prepared for whatever could happen," said Rochelle Calhoun, Dean of Student Affairs at Skidmore College.
Throughout the summer Calhoun and other school officials have assembled an Emergency Management Team that meets regularly to ensure the Skidmore and Saratoga communities are safe. In the spring the team began to meet specifically about the H1N1 virus.
"We are emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for one's own health. People need to be washing their hands and using sanitizer as often as possible. If flu symptoms arise then they need to stay isolated until things get better or seek medical attention if they don't," Calhoun said.
The Emergency Management Team is currently seeking options if the virus becomes a pandemic on campus, without excluding the option of having a full dormitory being used as a sick house.
"We are doing the best we can to watch the spread of this virus and are trying to anticipate how widespread it will be, but no one really knows that," Calhoun said. "We've talked about suspending classes if need be and where students can go if they can't go home. We'll be working very closely with health organizations to ensure that we are all at the highest level of safety."
A vaccine for the virus is due to be released in late October and it will consist of two vaccinations each one month apart. Vaccinations will be given in order of risk, and top priority patients will be pregnant women, people who live with or provide care to infants less than six months of age, health care and emergency medical service professionals, people between the ages of six months and 24-years-old and high risk patients. The vaccine should take effect two weeks after the second vaccination.
"At this point, H1N1 and seasonal flu will be circulating together, so people need to take extra precautions to stay healthy. If you have it, don't spread it," Bown said.
"There have been cases of H1N1 in the area, but we haven't seen a patient with flu-like symptoms in weeks," said Melissa Bown, a nurse who specialized in infection prevention at Saratoga Hospital. "We are planning and getting ready for the upcoming flu season but we don't know what to expect yet."
The instances of sickness always rises in the fall and winter seasons when large masses of people are getting together in small areas (i.e. students in school and dorms) and people are spending less time outside and are breathing in recycled air that could contain germs.
While the H1N1 virus has the same symptoms as the typical flu, it is different because the virus strain is something that has never been exposed to humans.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe and while most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.
"What people need to understand is that the new H1N1 virus hasn't caused nearly as many deaths as the seasonal flu has each year," Bown said. "It is a new thread of a virus which will cause problems, but we all have to be cautious about each type of flu that is around."
The CDC states that each year in the United States an average of 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. More than 90 percent of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalizations occur in people older than 65.
The H1N1 virus has not had a large occurrence in the elderly population; people under 25 years of age and pregnant women seem to be hit the hardest. This could mean that the older population may have some antibodies already in their system against the virus.
As students are readying to move into the dorms at Skidmore College, college officials have been readying for a possible outbreak of the new virus.
"What's most important is that we are prepared for whatever could happen," said Rochelle Calhoun, Dean of Student Affairs at Skidmore College.
Throughout the summer Calhoun and other school officials have assembled an Emergency Management Team that meets regularly to ensure the Skidmore and Saratoga communities are safe. In the spring the team began to meet specifically about the H1N1 virus.
"We are emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for one's own health. People need to be washing their hands and using sanitizer as often as possible. If flu symptoms arise then they need to stay isolated until things get better or seek medical attention if they don't," Calhoun said.
The Emergency Management Team is currently seeking options if the virus becomes a pandemic on campus, without excluding the option of having a full dormitory being used as a sick house.
"We are doing the best we can to watch the spread of this virus and are trying to anticipate how widespread it will be, but no one really knows that," Calhoun said. "We've talked about suspending classes if need be and where students can go if they can't go home. We'll be working very closely with health organizations to ensure that we are all at the highest level of safety."
A vaccine for the virus is due to be released in late October and it will consist of two vaccinations each one month apart. Vaccinations will be given in order of risk, and top priority patients will be pregnant women, people who live with or provide care to infants less than six months of age, health care and emergency medical service professionals, people between the ages of six months and 24-years-old and high risk patients. The vaccine should take effect two weeks after the second vaccination.
"At this point, H1N1 and seasonal flu will be circulating together, so people need to take extra precautions to stay healthy. If you have it, don't spread it," Bown said.
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