Eat healthy foods. Use soap and water. Get plenty of sleep.

Although these flu prevention strategies advocated by parents may seem like common sense, they might be lost among students as a panicked atmosphere is overtaking the H1N1 virus situation.

But according to Pat Snyder, public information officer at the Wood County Health Department, this doesn’t have to be the case.

Snyder said the major difference between H1N1, a mutation of the type A flu strain, and the seasonal flu is only in who catches it.

‘The symptoms are the same, the treatment is the same, and most people recover without medical care,’ she said. ‘But for one reason or another, this flu is transmitting very easily among the population of people who are 24 and younger.’

Barbara Hoffman, assistant medical director at Student Health Service, said no cases of H1N1 have been confirmed on campus.

She said hospitalized H1N1 patients are the only cases that must be officially confirmed and reported to the health department through the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, when rapid flu testing at Student Health Service determines a flu victim at the University has type A flu, they will be treated without being verified for H1N1.

Hoffman said the University is following CDC guidelines and taking precautions in residence halls. Resident Advisors are being educated and trained by Hall Directors and Residence Life is working closely with the custodial staff that cleans residence halls. Students are also being educated on how to reduce their risk of catching the virus, she said.

‘We have provided residence halls with masks just like those located in the Student Health Service. If a student comes here with symptoms that they feel are flu-like, they can use a mask to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others, but nothing says they have to,’ she said.

Hoffman said students should view the flu precautions page of the University’s Web site.

‘Students need to use prevention … so their immune systems are strong enough to fight any viruses that are out there,’ she said.

Snyder said she predicts flu cases will eventually peak and last as late as March, but students need not be alarmed if they take the necessary precautions.

‘A lot of people are getting sick, but people only need to pay attention, not get over-concerned,’ she said.

Snyder recommended vaccination as the ultimate preventative measure, either in injectable or nasal spray form. She said the health department received 1,000 nasal spray and 1,500 injectable vaccinations this week and is hosting clinics today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Huntington Bank building and tomorrow at North Baltimore High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

‘We also want people to take precautions to protect themselves, including washing their hands, covering coughs, getting plenty of rest and staying home if they’re sick,’ she said. ‘We would like to keep this in perspective. This is a flu. We can do things to protect ourselves and prevent this from spreading further.’

Sophomore Ashley Smith said she experienced the H1N1 panic firsthand when it was suspected a first floor resident had the virus in Kohl Hall, where she lives.

‘It’s contagious and many people were afraid on the first floor. But I think a lot of it was overreaction and people thinking too much,’ Smith said.

Smith also said she and her friends recently talked about H1N1 precautions and vaccinations in an RESC class core event for the Chapman learning community in Kohl Hall. She said the program advocated hand washing and using the flu buddy system for roommates, and now provides free soup at the front desk of the residence hall for anyone who is sick.

‘[H1N1] is scary, but people just need to take precautions like washing their hands and using hand sanitizer,’ she said.

Freshman Steven Reed said he thinks the small meetings and programs in residence halls are necessary to properly educate students on the facts of the H1N1 virus and eliminate indifferent attitudes about it.

‘Even if it’s only for about 20 minutes or so, if they take time out of your day, it’s going to make you think about it,’ he said.

Reed said he began taking necessary precautions last year to prevent catching the H1N1 virus while many students were making fun of it with hoax videos on YouTube and sarcastic jokes.

‘I don’t think people really take it seriously,’ he said. ‘It’s happened to a minimal amount of people and usually had a minimal effect on those people, but it can happen to anybody.’

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