H1N1 Outbreak at U.S. Air Force Academy
Recently, there was a swine flu outbreak at a U.S. Air Force Academy. From June 25th to July 24th, 134 cases were confirmed, and 33 more cases were suspected. 288 cadets were isolated during this period. None of the healthcare personnel were infected, which is surprising. The study that was conducted will hopefully help with the creation of appropriate protocal when isolation of patients is needed in a high-risk situation, or if the virus continues to spread. The report that was published online after the study had concluded was the first of it’s kind.
Investigators from the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service used the outbreak to their advantage. They studied the cases and natural behaviors of the H1N1 virus, which included it’s shedding patterns. Says lead investigator Caroline Takacs Witkop, MD, MPH of the U.S. Air Force Academy, “Characterizing virus-host interactions and the epidemiology of the H1N1 is important in both planning assumptions and in defining effective control measures. Studies of seasonal influenza suggest that viral shedding continues for as long as 7 days after syptom onset.” Which means that even once you start “feeling better”, you may still be contagious.
Some of the most commonly reported symptoms were fever, cough and a sore throat. The investigators believe the disease was spread during a social mixing event that was held for the students. The outbreak was quickly controlled because of good communication, and a quick reponse to the problem. This outbreak is one of the largest recognized outbreaks of H1N1 clusters at a U.S. college…so far. But all we hear on the news is how it keeps getting worse. We hear about how China is innoculating a mass number of people against the disease. How much worse is this going to get before it gets better? I don’t want to find out, but I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.
How many of you are truly worried about the outbreak?
Are any of you planning on getting the vaccination?
Uncategorized | Comments (5)5 Responses to “H1N1 Outbreak at U.S. Air Force Academy”
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I am kind of worried about the outbreak. But I know that there are medicines that can treat it and I wouldn’t be worried too much if I came down with it. I don’t plan on getting the vaccination and neither do any other of my family members.
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I personally am not very worried about the outbreak. It just doensn’t seem like that big of a deal anymore. But I know that it’s still dangerous. No, I am not planning on getting the H1N1 vaccination, because it hasn’t come to my mind as a need to get that right now. No one I know is planning on getting the vaccination either.
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I am not truly worried about it, but I think it’s in the back of all of our minds if it came up and one of us had to face it. I am not planning on getting the vaccination, because I think you shouldn’t get it if you don’t truly have to.
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I am not worried about the outbreak I do not think its as big of a deal as everyone it making it out to be. I do not want to get the vaccination but I believe my mom will make me get it.
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I think it is a scary thing, but im not like losing sleep over it.I think it is a serious thing and we should be more carful like not drinking after people and washing our hands more then we normally do.yes, i am getting the vaccination.
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