With smart phones, tweets, status updates, and e-mails, rumors spread faster than the W.H.O. can change the flu pandemic alert. Word on the street has been that three students on the Charles River Campus have come down with the much-talked about Swine Flu (or H1N1). I’m here to tell you: don’t believe the hype!
My colleagues at the U have a steady line to the Boston Health Commission and other State and local agencies that keep track of where and how this flu spreads. The good doctors have confirmed only one case of H1N1 in a student studying within the Dental School on the Medical Campus. The Student Health Service crew on Comm Ave is going pro-active – they’ve pumped up monitoring during finals week and into Commencement. That means that we’ll keep a special eye out for any flu-like illnesses, including cases that are not suspected of being H1N1. And, so we can limit the spread of the flu, we’ll reach out to students showing symptoms. (True story — they even put up a Web site on campus Swine Flu news!)
Bottom line – better safe than sorry. Chill. Relax. Like Paul Pierce, this is the truth — there are no additional reported cases of Swine Flu on the Medical or Charles River campuses.
Here’s to mom’s legendary advice: stay away from sick people; don’t show up if you’re sick (even for the fun stuff); no one else wants your germs, so use a tissue; and, wash your hands. Holler with questions and let’s keep an eye out for each other.
With washed hands, I wish you well on your exams and plenty of peace,
Kenn Elmore
BTW: Found an interesting post from a doctor (well, a Ph.D.) on Swine Flu’s impact.
