H1N1 ignites hygiene frenzy amongst students

Laura Carroll
October 19, 2009
Filed under Entertainment, News

Uneasiness increases as a growing number of East Meck students are faced with the risk of contracting the H1NI or swine flu virus.  Swine flu is the old name for the novel H1N1 Virus.  First identified in the spring, it with presents flu-like symptoms.

Because of the increasing number of H1N1 patients, East Meck and CMS schools have taken further steps to reduce the number of students coming in contact with swine flu.

“East Meck teachers have done an excellent job of referring students to me,” said school nurse Joyce Kelley-Kramer.

She stresses the point that even if a student has a test, if they have flu-like symptoms the important thing is to stay at home.  This reduces the spread of the virus and can even shorten time being sick.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, stuffy nose, chills, and body ache- similar to the seasonal flu. 

“I felt awful,” said junior John Leopard, who contracted swine flu in September.  “I was fatigued and achy; it was very similar to a seasonal flu.”

Hand washing and coughing into elbows are good ways to prevent the virus from spreading, but it is even more important to refer students who seem sick to the school nurse.

“I’m ready for more students to come in if they do,” Kramer said.

A common fear is that the number of flu patients will increase once the seasonal flu starts.  While there is a possibility of H1N1 flu vaccination this fall, there is no guarantee of this, or that the spread of swine flu will slow.

“We just don’t know what will happen,” said Kramer.

Kramer wants students to stay informed.  There are links on the school web page to the Center for Disease Control site, the CMS Coordinated Health site, and to local Mecklenburg County Health Department.  Already changes have been made to local hospital guidelines, for example.  Children under 18 are no longer allowed to visit them as a flu-spread prevention method.

Students and teachers have differing opinions on swine flu news coverage.  A lot believe that the flu is not all it is “coughed” up to be.  Civics teacher Martha Deiss feels that the attention to this may just be a distraction from the economic conditions.

“It was foreclosure, foreclosure, foreclosure, and all of a sudden they weren’t talking about it anymore,” said Deiss.

Other students share similar opinions about the validity of flu news.

According to junior Kendall Levi, “You never hear about people getting better.”

Fear of sickness has made Eagles take action.  More teachers are supplying tissues, students are making an effort to wash their hands, and those who feel sick stay home.

As flu season comes upon East Meck, it is time to slurp up that chicken soup and live hygienically.

“I actually got some hand sanitizer,” said junior Hannah Shrader.

It seems that more and more Eagles are following this path and taking strides toward hygiene.