Middlebury College flu effort uses 'isolation'
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By CRISTINA KUMKA Rutland Herald Staff - Published: November 16, 2009
It's been dubbed social isolation from the flu, seasonal or swine.
Since late August, 275 students at Middlebury College have reported having influenza-like symptoms of at least a 100-degree fever, sore throat and cough. They've responded by locking themselves in their dorm rooms for days, according to a Web site maintained by the college's Parton Health Center and the center's director.
Nineteen students came down with flu symptoms and took the same action in the last week, according to the Web site Friday.
The isolation approach is the college's attempt to prevent the spread of the seasonal and swine flu on campus. The symptoms have affected at least 10 percent of the entire college's 2,350-student population.
The number is high for three months but typical during the entire length of the flu season, said Dr. Mark Peluso, director of the health center.
"We're seeing a lot of sick students for this time of year," Peluso said. "If this were late February through early March this would be run of the mill."
Middlebury College is a voluntary influenza testing and reporting site for the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it sends random student flu test samples to the Vermont Department of Health to see what the predominant strain is in the community, Peluso said.
The college's first case of H1N1 came in October, after a student test proved positive.
Although Peluso said very few students are tested, of the 12 samples sent to the state over the last six to eight weeks, all have been H1N1.
Students, many of whom have taken to their rooms and put on masks without the college enforcing the isolation practice, have stayed out of class and away from social events until they were fever-free for 24 hours and off any medication they took to reduce it, Peluso said.
"You could be 101 with abdominal pain but if you don't have a sore throat and cough, you don't fit that isolation," he said.
Some students are calling the health center to describe what they have while others are staying in their rooms to recover, having friends or campus student life volunteers bring them their meals.
Very few students have missed more than five days of classes, Peluso said.
The college hasn't placed roommates who aren't sick in their own rooms because there just aren't enough open rooms but most well roommates are staying on campus with friends who haven't exhibited symptoms, according to Peluso.
Peluso said that for the campus' small population, the number of students with influenza-like symptoms — near the 300 mark — is pretty good compared to other campuses across the country.
Pennsylvania State University, a University Park, Pa., campus of about 44,000 students, has confirmed 2,000 students have had influenza-like illnesses, said Doris Guanowsky, senior associate director for the campus health service, University Health Services.
That campus received 4,800 H1N1 vaccinations.
Middlebury College had up to 600 nasal and shot vaccines Friday.
"Every high risk student that has identified themselves to us has had an opportunity to get an H1N1 vaccine," Peluso said.
Peluso attributed the flu containment on campus to students minimizing the spread themselves and proactive measures taken by three different college divisions — dining, residential life, and facilities.
Peluso said he and other campus health professionals are fielding regular conference calls with state health officials.
"This is all new to everyone," he said.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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