SC colleges battle swine flu break-outs, prepare students

The H1N1 flu virus is still spreading across South Carolina, and universities across the state are taking action to protect students from the virus.
The College is seeing students on a case-by-case basis, while spreading the word that good sleep and a healthy diet will keep the swine flu away.
Clemson University is taking action as well.  Jeff Gouch, Assistant Media Relations Director at Clemson, said that while students there are reporting only mild cases, the university is still taking steps to accommodate sick students.
 “We have now offered a flu meal kit,” Gouch said.  “We’ve got an online system of notification of absence.  Our folks in student affairs are monitoring those numbers of clicks (pertaining to the flu).”
Gouch said that Clemson is prepared to handle a pandemic on its campus from a team they created years ago.
“We’ve had a pandemic team; we’ve had it for several years now,” Gouch said.
Clemson’s media relations department is staying in close contact with the university’s health services center to monitor everything that is going on concerning the swine flu.
 “We’re in touch with them all of the time,” Gouch said.
Gouch said that they have not received many concerned phone calls from students.
Clemson is not certain on the number of cases at the university. “It’s hard for us to tell right now,” Gouch said.
The University of South Carolina is also on its toes when it comes to helping their students who have swine flu or swine flu symptoms.
Dr. Deborah Beck, Executive Director of USC’s Thompson Student Health Center, wrote in an e-mail that USC is taking precautions to help students prevent themselves from becoming sick.  She also said that USC is making sure that students who are already sick are being treated.
“The university distributed about 10,000 flu kits to students during move-in weekend Aug. 14 -15,” Beck said.  “Sick students are being treated at the health center with Tamiflu and are being housed at the health center. Students with milder symptoms are asked to self-isolate in their rooms.”
Beck also said that the university’s cases have all been mild and in the double digits.
“USC currently has about 50 cases of H1N1 flu,” Beck said.  “Since the beginning school, we have had 160, a number that includes the 50 current cases.  Fortunately, all are mild.”
Margaret M. Lamb, Director of Media Relations at USC, said that there are resources for students who may be sick.
“We have a very good H1N1 Web site,” Lamb said.  “There has been a drive-through clinic.”
The drive-through clinic, according to Beck’s e-mail, took place for one day.  The clinic provided seasonal flu shots and may be used for H1N1 shots as well.
“People only had to drive up, and shots were given through the car window,” Beck said.  “Depending on the success of this clinic, the Student Health Services and Vehicle Management may utilize this method for H1N1 vaccinations, as well.”
Gouch said that he is uncertain as to whether or not Clemson will receive the federal vaccine that is supposed to be dispersed in October.
“We still don’t know, like everybody else,” Gouch said.
USC is planning to receive the federally dispersed swine flu vaccine.
“We expect to get it this month,” Lamb said.
Both universities have Web sites outlining what students need to do in order to protect themselves from swine flu, as well as how to deal with swine flu once they have the symptoms.  Both Web sites have links to other Web sites, such as CDC.org, if visitors want any additional information on the pandemic.
“We’ve created a little flu Web site and a flu Twitter,” Gouch said.
For more information about how other state schools are handling the spread of the H1N1 virus, visit www.sc.edu/flu for USC, and www.clemson.edu for Clemson, and click on “Health Alert” in the top right corner.