Sept. 14, 2009 | By Gary D. Myers
The H1N1 strain of influenza, commonly known as swine flu, has garnered much press over the past few months. Updates on the illness dominate the headlines and newscasts on a daily basis. Schools across the country are working to slow and prevent the illness.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is no exception. Preparations are well underway at the seminary to help slow and prevent the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus (commonly known as swine flu). One important resource available to the seminary family is the NOBTS clinic located in the Hardin Student Center.
According to certified nurse practitioner Dr. Mari Wirfs, director of the NOBTS clinic and professor of nursing at the William Carey University's School of Nursing, much of the anxiety surrounding "swine flu" is unfounded. She is quick to ease the fears generated by the extensive media coverage.
In regard to severity and vulnerability, Wirfs is no more or less concerned with the swine flu than she is with seasonal flu. Both involve uncomfortable symptoms and both can cause an individual to miss up to seven days of work or school. However, in many cases, swine flu symptoms have been less severe than those commonly experienced with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 is a different strain of influenza than seasonal flu, Wirfs said. With seasonal flu, the peak months are November through February. H1N1 cases began appearing during the late spring and early summer months. With the start of school, many states have experience a new outbreak of swine flu.
This is not the first time that a swine flu outbreak has hit this country. In the 1970s, a swine flu outbreak led to mass immunization, Wirfs said. The vaccine worked and few cases of the swine flu were reported.
"People who are at risk for swine flu are also at risk for seasonal flu," she said. "The illness will be the same - headache, body aches, profound fatigue, fever, loss of appetite - and it will last five to seven days."
Wirfs is a strong proponent of immunization. She is currently working to secure doses of the H1N1 vaccine.
"We are on high alert looking for availability of the (H1N1 vaccine)," Wirfs said. "Our vendor will notify us right away when doses are available."
The H1N1 shot will not be effective against the season flu and vice versa. For this reason, Wirfs recommends getting both immunizations to avoid an uncomfortable bout with the flu virus. The seminary will receive doses of the seasonal flu vaccine in October.
Questions about the H1N1 vaccine remain. Wirfs said that it is still not know when the vaccine will be available or the cost of immunization.
Most current projections are that, as with the seasonal flu vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine will be available in mid-October, adults will receive one dose and children will receive two-split doses, and immunity will be achieved within 8 to 10 days.
Stopping or slowing the spread of the flu virus
The seminary is actively involved in trying to slow or stop the spread of the flu virus on campus. Seminary officials are asking campus residents to wash their hands often, cover their coughs and sneezes and stay home if flu-like symptoms develop. Signs promoting these three preventative actions have been place in bathrooms throughout campus.
While soap and water are the best option for hand washing, the Centers for Disease Control recommend alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available. Contrary to popular belief, the CDC has determined that alcohol-based sanitizers are effective against the flu virus. In light of this CDC finding, the seminary has placed hand sanitizer stations at convenient locations throughout the campus.
The CDC recommends that people sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow rather than their hand. Sneezing or coughing into ones hands is an easy way to spread the virus.
Diagnosis and treatment of the flu
If flu-like symptoms develop, a person should visit a health care professional as soon as possible, Wirfs said. Once flu is diagnosed, the health care professional may prescribe an antiviral flu medicine such as TAMIFLU which shortens the duration and minimizes the severity of the illness. However, the medicine only works if taken within the first 24-48 hours of flu onset.
Patients should drink fluids often and eat normally, Wirfs said. The fever and body aches may be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Wirfs said that children should not be given aspirin.
Other than the initial visit to a medical professional, Wirfs recommends rest at home for those who develop the flu. This helps minimize spread of the virus.
According to Wirfs, the deaths attributed to swine flu have come in people who have poor health or compromised immune systems. Healthy people who develop the illness have the ability to fight the flu very successfully, she said.
"The rest of us, if we've got the flu, we've got the flu," she said. "We'll be miserable for a few days, but we'll come out of it just fine."
Students, faculty, and staff will be notified as soon as the NOBTS Clinic is prepared
to begin administering flu shots. In the meantime, flu shots may be reserved by calling the NOBTS Clinic at (504) 816-8596 or emailing clinic@nobts.edu.
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For more on H1N1, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.