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Campus operations, including final exams and graduation ceremonies, will proceed as planned, despite confirmation that a University of Hawai'i at Mānoa resident has contracted swine flu.
Officials from the state Department of Health verified, on May 8, that an unidentified student living at the Hale Wainani dormitory tested positive for the H1N1 influenza A virus, after reporting to the University Health Services Mānoa clinic with flu-like symptoms. Additionally, one of the student's two roommates reported having a sore throat, prompting the university to isolate the students in separate rooms, according to UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.
"Isolation is the first step and that's the best step, if their symptoms intensify when we're talking to the Health Department officials about when and if to do that," Hinshaw said.
Since discovering the infection, administrators have been communicating with students who may have come in contact with the virus, while also trying to prevent panic by informing members of the university community about swine flu's symptoms and effects.
"We've already had a number of meetings, we've sent out an alert, which we typically do, we've put it on the Web site and we've contacted any students in classes that we think might have been exposed," Hinshaw said. "We're trying to get the word out because people need good, reliable information and they need to stay calm. This is a normal part of influenza, unfortunately, but we are certainly doing the right thing."
Characterizing the afflicted resident's illness as "mild," Hinshaw urged students to follow recommended public health procedures.
"As everyone is aware, influenza is a current concern in Hawai'i, so all of us should follow good infection control practices, including avoiding others if you are sick with flu symptoms," she said. "That will help reduce the spread of the virus."
Neither the sick student nor his roommates had traveled out of state recently, said Janice Okubo, spokesperson for the Department of Health. Janitors disinfected residential facilities used by the student, though administrators were unwilling to specify which building and floor of the low-rise Hale Wainani complex were affected.
HEALTH SERVICES OPEN
Acknowledging the importance of monitoring the disease, medical professionals at University Health Services held clinic hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, handling a variety of health concerns.
"University Health Services saw slightly more than 50 people on Saturday," Hinshaw said. "In those individuals with influenza symptoms, no Influenza A virus was detected based on the rapid-detection test."
New cases are commonly found during a pandemic, according to state health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino, who believes that the gravity of new cases should dictate decisions about controlling the illness.
"It is not unusual for us to find additional cases of novel H1N1 influenza A as this nationwide outbreak continues," Fukino said. "The numbers are not as important, at this point, as the severity of the illness and recovery of the cases."
So far, six cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Hawai'i, all of which have occurred on O'ahu. On May 7, the Health Department issued a medical advisory to physicians statewide, encouraging them to order molecular testing for all reports of influenza, regardless of whether the patient had recently traveled or not.
"With evidence of community transmission, we now need to look at all influenza cases for the possibility of novel influenza A virus," Fukino said.
None of the contagious individuals came into contact with the general public after testing positive for swine flu and no fatalities have been linked to the disease, said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist and chief of the Health Department's disease outbreak control division.
"All of the confirmed cases we have identified so far took individual responsibility and remained at home for the duration of their illness," Park said. "Their actions helped to protect their classmates, co-workers and friends from catching the novel flu virus." STUDENTS UNDAUNTED
Aside from signs posted around campus warning students to cover their mouths when coughing and to wash their hands frequently, campus life progressed as usual over the weekend, with students relaxing in front of residence halls and cramming for final exams at the institution's libraries.
"I'm not really afraid of getting infected," said sophomore Joseph Reid, while playing cards in front of Frear Hall. "It's not like swine flu is more dangerous than a lot of other things I'm subjected to, like secondhand smoke or drunk drivers."
Other students agreed, noting that 13,000 people have died of complications from seasonal flu in the United States this year, compared with only three deaths caused by swine flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal about something that's affecting so few people," said freshman Hilary Xhou, a biology major planning to attend medical school. "Nobody notices that tuberculosis is infecting more people or more common flu strains are killing more people because everyone is caught up this exotic, media-created pandemic."
Some graduating seniors felt that participants in UH Mānoa 's upcoming commencement ceremonies, scheduled for May 16, should forego the tradition of shaking hands when receiving diplomas, something campus administrators are already considering.
"A lot of colleges on the mainland aren't shaking hands because it's such an easy way to transmit a disease and they want to protect their students," said senior Christina Patton, an economics major. "We should do the same thing or find some alternative gesture to use."
Swine flu contamination was not an abiding concern for many students, however, who were more preoccupied with completing their last week of the semester.
"I feel bad for the kid that's got the flu, but I've got projects and tests and presentations to worry about," said junior Casey Grassman, as he shook the hand of a classmate. "Let me know when Miss Piggy infects Kermit. Then, I'll worry."
UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES MāNOA
Clinic hours: M/Tu/Th/F: 8:30 a.m. to noon, 12:30 to 4 p.m. W: 8:30 a.m. to noon, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Phone: (808) 956-8965 E-mail: uhsm@hawaii.edu
SWINE FLU INFO
Anyone who shows signs of flu-like illness should contact University Health Services at (808) 956-8965. Symptoms of H1N1 virus include sudden fever, coughing, sore throat, body aches and pains/fatigue.
Health officials continue to stress the importance of following the recommended public health guidelines - cover your cough or sneeze, wash your hands often and do not go to work or school if you are sick.
For updated information, check the UH Mānoa Web site - manoa.hawaii.edu - or call the campus emergency hot line at (808) 956-0001.
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