First case of ‘swine flu’ confirmed on WMU campus

By Ashley Wioskowski
Editor in Chief

Western Michigan University has its first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) and the University has already taken steps to prepare campus.

On May 13, an engineering student became ill and was tested at Sindecuse Health Center on May 15, according to WMU news.

The Michigan Department of Community Health confirmed his test was positive May 18 and Sindecuse was informed immediately. The student, whose name cannot be released, is recovering in an off-campus Kalamazoo apartment according to WMU news.

Cheryl Roland, executive director of university relations, wrote in an e-mail that the student had recently traveled to New York over the semester break.

WMU officials alerted instructors and students who are currently in classes with the infected student but Lisa Marshall, medical director at Sindecuse said none of the contacts have reported any illnesses.

“We are seeing a small stream of students with flu-like symptoms who have not been contacts of the student diagnosed with H1N1, and we are testing these cases appropriately,” Marshall wrote in an e-mail.

According to WMU news, this is the fourth confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in Kalamazoo.

“They should also become familiar with flu symptoms, stay home if they are feeling ill and turn to Sindecuse or their family doctor for advice if they suspect they may have H1N1.  There is a wealth of information about the virus that can be found through the “Flu Info Center” link on WMU’s Home page,” Roland wrote.

Sindecuse has put in effect a pandemic alert level system to show campus how deep the threat is. One is the lowest and four the highest. The current level is one and Roland wrote that there is no reason to raise the level.

“It would take additional cases and an evaluation by university officials as well as consultation with state and local health authorities to determine it that the alert level needs to be raised. We are following guidelines for higher education institutions outlined by the Centers for Disease Control,” Roland wrote.