Article Details

H1N1 Situation Update – September 23, 2009

Wed Sep 23 14:46:00 CDT 2009

We are entering the fifth week of classes. To date, we’ve had minimal disruption to campus life because of H1N1. We are grateful that most of those who contract H1N1 recover quickly. This is all good news. But with this good news comes cause for concern: an emerging sense of complacency regarding the risks of H1N1.

I have had several questions this week that go something like this: “Why are we going to this much trouble for a flu that doesn’t even kill as many as a regular flu?” or “Isn’t everyone overreacting?” So let me talk about these questions. This new or novel strain of flu emerged during a time when people normally do not get flu. It has affected certain populations of people in some unexpected ways. For example, usually those over 65 are at high risk for having complications from flu. With H1N1, few people over 65 are sick with H1N1 and fewer still are experiencing complications. Historically, school age children, adolescents, and young adults do not have high rates of flu, and even if they do get flu, they tend to recover quickly and without complications. With H1N1, those between the ages of 5 and 24 have experienced a higher incidence of contracting flu and more severe complications resulting from flu.  In addition, we anticipate that in regular flu season, those with pre-existing medical conditions are the ones who will also have severe flu. That remains true with H1N1; however, a significant number of those with severe complications or those who have died were previously healthy.

Even if there were no differences between how H1N1 and seasonal flu affect various age groups, the sheer numbers of people expected to have H1N1 are staggering. Current estimates are that as much as 50 percent of our population will have flu this year. That is a lot of people. If H1N1 just equals the serious disease or fatality rates of seasonal flu, then by simple mathematical calculations, we would have many more people with significant or fatal disease than we normally do with seasonal flu. Some models are predicting that as many as three times the number of people who die from seasonal flu could do so as a result of H1N1.

Most of you who get H1N1 will have mild cases; you are not the ones I worry about. I’m most concerned for those who are in the high risk groups for severe disease and those who are healthy now but will still experience severe disease. In this instance, I believe we truly are our brother’s keepers. Think about it this way; what if you are the person who ends up being exposed to H1N1 by someone who knew they had H1N1? What if you contracted H1N1 from someone who put their desires/needs over your safety or the safety of a loved one? How would that affect you and those who depend on you to be well? This is why we work so hard to prevent an outbreak on our campus. No one would be happier than I would be if we all woke up tomorrow and H1N1 was history. But, just in case, we’ll keep on working to prevent or contain H1N1 on our campus.

If you have H1N1, or someone you know on campus has H1N1, please use our on-line reporting system to tell us. Here is the link: ASU-H1N1 Flu Prevention and Reporting.  This helps us know who needs assistance as well as helping us track the number of cases that exist within our campus community.  There are many links on our H1N1 site that provide you with vital information. Most of the answers to questions you may have can be found at those links. Should you need more information, please contact the Student Health Center, the Department of Student Affairs (870) 972-3355, or me (dpersell@astate.edu, at 870-972-3074).

Dr. Deborah Persell, the author of this H1N1 update, is an associate professor of Nursing in ASU's College of Nursing and Health Professions, coordinator of the Regional Center for Disaster Preparedness Education, and an expert in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Contact Dr. Persell (dpersell@astate.edu) at (870) 972-3074.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
for questions and answers about 2009’s H1N1 flu.