Thursday, November 26, 2009

Education

Swine Flu Slams Washington State

September 11, 2009 05:47 PM ET | Jessica Calefati | Permanent Link | Print

Washington has had more reports of flulike symptoms among its college students than any other state—three times more than Georgia, the state with the next highest tally, the American College Health Association and the Seattle Post Intelligencer report.

Testing will be necessary to show how many of the illnesses are swine flu. But the figures are being closely watched because of expectations of a resurgence of the H1N1 virus.

Washington State University in Pullman has experienced the most severe college campus outbreak and has pushed the state's average rate of flulike illnesses to 366.8 cases per 10,000 students. The national average is 18 cases per 10,000 students.

"We're all hoping it never gets as bad as it does in Washington," says James Turner of the University of Virginia, who also serves as the ACHA's president. "That remains to be seen."

On Wednesday, 128 students at Washington State contacted health officials with flulike symptoms. One high-risk patient has been hospitalized for dehydration but is expected to recover. About 2,500 cases have been reported since the start of the fall semester.

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Tags: Washington | colleges | Washington State University | swine flu

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Reader Comments

Added caution

It has always irritated me when feverish, coughing sick people go to work and moms of sick kids send them to school. That behavior could really be a matter of life and death this year.

All our behaviors matter. People often go to school and work with sore throats, coughs, running noses, etc., blow their noses all day. This could be dangerous to others, now. Remember our behaviors really can help contain this flu and save lives.

IF YOU ARE SICK OR FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING SICK -- STAY HOME OR GO HOME if you're out. NO -- don't stop by the grocery store on the way home. THIS MEANS YOU! Call a friend to leave a bag of groceries on your porch if you are truly out.

If you even feel the START of feeling sick ... Don't go to school. Dont' go to that meeting. Don't go to church. Don't go out with friends. Don't go out to eat. You might save a life -- yours and others.

Everyone should use their OWN PENS when signing credit card slips. Wear gloves when pumping gas. Wash hands after handling money or punching in your debit card pen #. (Wash hands all day long.)

College and high school students -- don't go on dates if your campus is having an epidemic. Talk on the phone. Don't throw parties or go to parties, bars, movies. Don't share drinks or share bites of food. Study at home. Wear masks at football games.

We all should start wearing masks and gloves in public.

WTF

haha.. good joke. for a min there i was like what the hell?

Rules of conduct

There shall be no physical touching of any kind, no kissing or hugging

everyone from this day foreword will sleep in separate beds and change with clean linens daily.

You will carry medical grade instant anti biotic hand cleanser and use it often.

You will ware Hospital grade mask and gloves, You may wear other gloves over your hospital grade gloves and ski mask over your mask if it is cold.

You will carry anti biotic wipes for door handles shopping carts and railings.

You will sanitize your vehicles every three hours of use or before you get out of it.

You must sterilize play ground equipment before and after your child plays on it.

All children, parents and individuals are encouraged to turn any body in for not carrying out these guide lines they are for your own good and will give the pharmaceutical police more income and help doctors replace your immune system which we destroyed with our drugs

Any body caught not following these guide lines will be arrested and conditioned in A germ free environment for six months before release back to the community they came from

Your pharmaceutical virus police

…...................

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