Swine Flu vaccine, courtesy of ktar.net

Although the regular winter flu is mostly common for people over the age of 65, H1N1 is mostly striking the young. Since most college student fit within 24 years of age they are among the priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine. This may be good news for Bloomsburg students, and other college students who are interested in receiving the Swine Flu vaccine. According to the CDC, Center for Disease and Control, the Swine Flu is circulating in all 50 states.

The Health Center has recently received 2,400 doses of H1N1 vaccine and administered the Swine Flu shots on

Nursing Major Brittany Martin gives the H1N1 vaccine to Sophomore Sarah Cheatwood during the Student Health Center Clinic, photo courtesy of Connor Showalter

November 2, 2009 between 9am to 5pm to students only. The Voice reported that only 1,100 students received the H1N1 flu vaccine. At the Health Center H1N1 vaccines will still be available to students by appointment only until they run out of the vaccine. In order to make students feel safer with issues regarding the Swine Flu the Bloomsburg Health Center has set up a Q and A page regarding most commonly asked questions from students such as: what are the symptoms of the Swine Flu, and how to remain healthy.

One student, Lauren Roberto, a 20-year old female has decided she will be getting the Swine Flu vaccination in precaution to the Swine Flu. She has already gotten the seasonal flu shot for the year and is continuing to be cautious of possible flu like symptoms. She received her shot on November 2, 2009 administered by the university.

While many students may agree with Lauren in taking this precaution to the H1N1 virus, Jessica Picciotti is sure she will not be getting the Swine Flu vaccine. Jessica feels washing her hands often, and getting plenty of sleep is enough in order to stay healthy. She does not believe in injecting a small dose of the flu into her body since she already has a strong immune system. She has not gotten the season flu shot vaccine and does not feel vaccinations for the flu are necessary for her. Both girls are doing as much as they believe is enough for them to stay healthy.

The most common reported side effects of the H1N1 vaccine consist of muscle pain, nausea, headache, fever, chills, and vomiting. However, there have been no significant safety concerns from the H1N1 vaccine so far. To learn more about the H1N1 flu and the Swine Flu vaccine check out the CDC’s website.

Instead of going through the flu season happy and healthy, Jennings came down with flu-like symptoms ten days after receiving the shot. Her symptoms progressively worsened and she started blacking out, resulting in two hospitalizations. She now has difficulty speaking, eating, and walking, due to uncontrollable seizures.

Jennings reported her health problems to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) thinking there might have been something wrong with her vaccine. The FDA found no problems with the particular lot of flu vaccines that Desiree received, and the agency has not received any other reports of adverse effects from this lot.

Health experts stress that overall, extreme side effects are rare and that the flu shot is safe for the majority of the public.

Desiree’s story has now caught the attention of Hollywood. An organization founded by Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, Generation Rescue, is so touched by her story that they have reached out to offer words of encouragement and the organizations support.

“They are extremely helpful,” Desiree said. “They have a lot of doctors that deal with vaccine interactions, and they have sent us so many other stories similar to mine.”

Desiree’s reaction is one-in-a-million and doctors say it may be irreversible.

Check out this shocking video and interview with Desiree to learn more about her condition.

The wilderness first aid/wilderness first responder recertification course is designed to provide outdoor leaders, guides and rangers with an introduction to first aid and patient care in remote settings. Special topics include, but are not limited to: wound management and infection, realigning fractures and dislocations, improvised splinting techniques, patient monitoring and long-term management problems, plus up-to-date information on environmental emergencies.

The course emphasizes principles of treatment and decision making, not the memorization of lists. It does not include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Participants who complete the course will be issued a two-year NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute wilderness first aid certification.

The $170 fee includes textbooks, syllabus, equipment and certification cards. For more information, visit www.buquest.org or by call the Quest office at (570) 389-4323.  Early sign up is recommended.

BU Professor Jeanette Keith will speak on “Mosquitoes, Environments and the Social Construction of Yellow Fever” Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in the BU’s Andruss Library, Schweiker Room. The lecture is free and open to the public.

In 1878, a major yellow fever epidemic swept through the Mississippi Valley, killing more than 18,000 people. It is now known that yellow fever is spread by a variety of mosquito with very specific environmental needs; in 1878, that discovery had not yet been made.  Historically, when the origins of a disease are unknown, humans construct socially useful stories to explain who gets sick and who dies.

For more information, contact David S. Heineman, assistant professor of communications, at (570) 389-4188 or dheinema@bloomu.edu.

            Soltz has been isolated in her home and under the care of Geisinger’s infectious disease control physician.  Individuals who were in contact with Soltz prior to her diagnoses have showed no signs of having contracted the virus and are no longer in the high-risk group.  President Soltz has not displayed any flu-like symptoms and is not considered infected.  All individuals who were possibly at risk of contracting the disease have passed the incubation period which is said to be one to three days according to an interview with Andrew Pekosz, an associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University, by the Washington Post.

Long Beach State (Calif.) students pick up masks to prevent swine flu; courtesy of the AP

The university has finalized its H1N1 course of action.  According to Cindy Harris, supervisor of the university Health Center, students who are confirmed to be H1N1 positive will be required to report home, or if unable, to stay confined to their room or apartment.  Any roommates will have the option to temporarily move out in coordination with Residence Life, or pick up a safety mask.  The university has also installed touch-free hand sanitizers in all buildings on campus.

            “Young people from ages six months to about 24 years of age are considered most susceptible,” said Harris. “This flu can spread rapidly and can get a large amount of people sick in a short period of time.”

            Symptoms are very similar to the seasonal flu, only more severe.  A fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, painful full body aches, trouble breathing, watery eyes, and congested sinuses are all causes for concern and a visit to a doctor, whether at the health center or elsewhere, is strongly recommended. 

            A vaccine for the H1N1 virus is expected to be available to the public around mid to late October, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The BU health center is registered as a Push site and will receive vaccines when they become available.  Until then, sanitation is the only way to prevent the virus; that and hoping it doesn’t spread in this area.

*Communications Director Rosalee Rush was not available for interview when called.

The BU health center provides answers to common questions about swine flu on its site.

For BU students’ reactions check out coverage by WBRE News.

The initial excitement and thrill for the freedom and experiences offered in college life wear off for every student once the pressure of papers, numerous tests, and social drama starts to arise. After awhile, the average college student becomes tired and uninterested in drinking every night and waking up to their usual 8 a.m. quiz. The summer air has surfaced and the notion of finishing any  work that is due has suddenly become an afterthought.

What is this epidemic that millions of college students are facing nationwide?  A disease has spread that is being referred to as “senioritis.” As we progress through our college years, we began to question senioritis and what it entails.

In a recent survery of students in their freshman to senior years, we found that 81 percent of Bloomsburg students are currently dealing with senioritis.

A devoted student to his work, senior Tyler Morgan describes senioritis as, “Not wanting to go to class.” This simple explanation from someone with four-years experience under his belt gives the rest of us little faith that our hard-working habits will stay strong.

Many students at Bloomsburg University disclosed that like the flu, senioritis tends to be seasonal with outbreaks before Christmas break and right before summer. Many seniors have already landed internships and jobs, making that last-minute Anthropology paper seem pointless. Though 62 percent of BU students feel that senioritis is a disease, there are still 41 percent of persistent students attending class regularly in efforts to get their money’s worth of education by “showing up.”

We all entered into college with high hopes and anticipation for making new friends and having a fresh start. So when did the cycle change? Many college students say the stress and thoughts of not caring start to surface during junior year when students feel they are in between a rock and a hard place. High school days are far behind and careers and thoughts of future plans are soon ahead, yet students feel confused and anxious about what the future holds.

The real definition of senioritis varies from student to student, some thinking it’s an emotional experience due to uncertainty about the future and others suggesting pure laziness.  Some students claim to have senioritis as early as their freshman year.

Researcher James Coleman suggests that senioritis can be prevented both at the high school and college level through giving students meaningful work and assignments that are intended to better their future in efforts to opening doors, “Giving young people opportunities to make their academic work more meaningful through service-learning, or other forms of experiential education, can increase students’ academic aspirations”. In asking if senioritis should be considered an issue at Bloomsburg University, Sheena Adkins said, “Yes, I believe it’s an issue at every college and all students feel it at some point.” As we take steps towards trying to further our student learning, opportunities and college experience,  we should take into account this “disease” facing our students at Bloomsburg University.

Elysse Madonna sniffles and clears her throat as she attempts to speak, “I feel like I’ve been sick forever. Once I’m almost over the Flu, someone else who has it gives it back to me. It just never stops.” Madonna, a freshman at Bloomsburg University, is referring to an epidemic that has attacked  a large portion of Bloomsburg University’s 8,500 students: the Influenza outbreak.

Many students share Madonna’s frustrated feelings about the lingering sickness. The pesky virus can cause  multiple symptoms to erupt at the same time, spur frequent trips to the crowded Health Center, and temporarily disabled so many college students from the daily routine.

A sore throat or a throbbing headache is bad enough. Combine these common cold symptoms with, a raging fever of at least 100 degrees, painful sinus congestion, body aches, a hoarse cough, an incessant runny nose, dizziness and nausea, and one has successfully described the crippling Influenza virus.

“My fever and dizziness were so bad, I could barely stand and hold up my own body weight,” says Rachel Yanchek, a freshman, who contracted the virus in early February. “My body felt so heavy, kind of like there were weights attached to my arms and legs,” she continues.

Though Yanchek’s body aches and fever debilitated her the most personally, others were more affected by other symptoms of the Flu. Jeremy Rhen, also a freshman attending the University, felt that his severe sinus congestion had the worst effect on his health. “It was so bad, not being able to breathe. It led to me losing a lot of sleep and waking up extremely frustrated,” said Rhen.

Another freshman, Elisabeth Walter, said that being sick while away from home for the first time helped make the experience even worst. “I had pain everywhere and my fever was so high. I called my mom all the time, asking her what I could do to feel better. It was not a fun time at all.”

All of the harsh symptoms experienced by the interviewees were experienced by countless other students all over campus. The question is, what can they do in an effort to become healthy again and to rid their bodies of the sickness?

There are said to be many cures for illnesses such as the common cold and the influenza virus, but which ones did the students at Bloomsburg University find most helpful? “I drank a lot of fluids, especially tea, and slept as much as I could and I think that helped a lot,” says Madonna when asked how she took care of herself while sick. Rhen, who took a more medicated approach to weeding out the sickness in his body, went to the Health Center where he was given decongestants and medication for a pink eye infection. Yanchek, who also took a trip to the Health Center, tried to feel healthier as naturally as possible. She states, “I tried to eat really healthy, nutrient-rich foods and drank orange juice. I also slept for a whole day.”

Though medication eased the effects of the Flu virus for many, the most efficient remedies seemed to be plenty of  rest and increased fluid intake. Yet, many students stayed sick longer than they would have if they had been at home. Leave it to college campuses to spread germs like wildfire.

“I felt like everyone I knew was sick, or becoming sick, or just getting over having the Flu,” said Rhen. Madonna shared his insight. “Being cooped up in my dorm room was the reason I stayed sick so long. I couldn’t escape the germs, they were everywhere,” she said. The constant interaction and close living quarters among healthy and sick students in dorms and apartments may have aided in prolonging the illness across campus. The blistering winter winds and snow, which certainly didn’t help, made for a lengthy Flu season for so many students, professors, and workers at Bloomsburg University. When Mom and Dad are far away, who did the students call upon for help and the best healing methods?

Walter says she could not have gotten better if it were not for the help and care from her neighbor, Elysse Madonna. “She made sure I didn’t pass out in the shower one night, brought me damp washcloths to bring my fever down and always checked up on me,” Walter says of Madonna’s helpful efforts. “She really is just the best neighbor and she genuinely cared and wanted me to feel better. I’m really thankful for that,” said Walter. Other students, like Rhen, took a more humorous approach to the Flu outbreak, and tried to find the irony in every case. “We would all just point fingers and say ‘Dude, you did this to me,’ to all of our friends. It was kind of a way of lightening the mood and it helped us forget about how bad we felt for the time being,” said Rhen. Therefore, it was possibly the tight-knit friendships amongst the Bloomsburg students that played the biggest recovery role during the outbreak.

Yet, with recovery came make-up assignments in class, notes to copy from others, missed tests and quizzes, and irretrievable class time that was lost. Not everyone that was infected with the Influenza virus fell behind in their classes, but some found it increasingly difficult to pay attention and focus while they were ill. “I had no motivation to study at all, even though I managed to go to all my classes. I felt like it would have been more worthwhile just to sleep the day away,” says Madonna. Yanchek, whose situation was similar, found it hard to force herself out of bed for her 8 a.m. classes every Monday and Wednesday. She said, “Waking up in the mornings was brutal. I just wanted to sleep and I could barely stay awake in class.” These students chose to stay active in their educations by attending class, when the only places they wanted to be were their beds.

Loss of sleep should no longer be an issue for students upon their return back to classes after a week-long Spring break retreat. The crucial rest and relaxation healed many over the short respite, and the Influenza virus has almost completely exited the campus. Yet, hopefully the students will be better prepared for next year when the contagious illness will undoubtedly rear its ugly head once more. Ample sleep, the good company and care of friends, and lots of orange juice should put this insistent virus back in its place.

For more information on how to avoid becoming infected by the view, take a look at some helpful advice at collegetips.com

(Title photo by Davide Taviani through creative commons)