Schools In Region Cautious, But Not Alarmist On Swine Flu

BRISTOL, Va. – In the wake of a “highly probable” case of the H1N1 virus at Emory & Henry College, officials at area schools said Wednesday they are taking aggressive steps to prevent an occurrence at their institutions, while also working to avoid unnecessary alarm.
“At the moment, it’s not a cause for panic,” Greg Nayor, dean of student development at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va., said. “But it is reason for us to be very observant and closely monitor the situation. We’re being very pro-active.”
Paul Conco, vice-president of finance and administration at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, said the school had not radically changed procedures it already had in place to prevent the H1N1 virus, but had “made everyone on campus sensitive to what’s going on and staying attuned to it.”
“We’d like people to be [aware] and to be smart,” Conco said Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Emory & Henry College officials disclosed that a student had tested positive for type-A flu. A positive test is generally considered a reliable sign of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as “swine flu.” Emory & Henry eventually sent the student home as a precautionary move.
The H1N1 virus, which has affected millions and caused deaths worldwide, produces typical flu-like symptoms. But it also has a higher ability than many other influenza viruses to dramatically attack the lungs, increasing the chances of pneumonia or other conditions that can led to death.
The H1N1 virus is contagious and can be spread by sneezing and coughing. It also is believed to be transmitted by people who have contact with infected objects and then touch their noses or mouths. The latter has led numerous health experts, including the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, to urge people to frequently clean their hands, with soap and hot water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine announced Tuesday that the state’s Department of Health plans to distribute the H1N1 immunization vaccine, beginning next month, to doctors, clinics, pharmacies and other registered sites.
In the meantime, representatives from area colleges and education boards said they are working extra hard to make students, faculty and others aware of procedures already in place to limit the chances of an H1N1 case.
Alisa Hearl, school health-service supervisor with the Sullivan County Department of Education in Blountville, Tenn., said the district might increase its once-a-week “Doorknob Days” program among its 13,000 students in 27 elementary, middle and high schools.
The “Doorknob Days” program encourages Sullivan County students to devote one day each week to paying special attention to what they touch while in school.
“We may do the ‘Doorknob Days’ more often each week, just to keep people extra aware,” Hearl said.
Benny Berry, director of safety and security at King College in Bristol, Tenn., said the school was emphasizing – to students and others – the importance of taking their “personal health responsibilities” extra seriously to help prevent a swine-flu case.
Sue Robertson, chief nurse at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tenn., said the school had increased the number of hand sanitizers available on campus and recently held a conference call with Sullivan County health officials to get an update on the H1N1 virus.
“The message we’ve tried to convey to faculty is that right now, this isn’t at a level anywhere near the [traditional] cases of flu that occur,” Robertson said of the H1N1 virus.
But Robertson said Northeast was also making workers aware of the challenges the school might face if an H1N1 case did occur and affected several people, and the need to be properly prepared.
“So we’re trying to keep down being overly alarmed, while keeping up our awareness and preparation,” Robertson said.
Richard Erskine, president of the Southeast Culinary and Hospitality College in Bristol, Va., said that school had increased its scrutiny on cleaning any items frequently touched by students.
“We’ve also contacted the (Virginia) Health Department about being one of the sites for administering the vaccine shots next month,” Erskine said.

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