The swine flu swept through Bethany University last week, as six students were diagnosed with mild cases of the virus.
The school has followed recommendations outlined by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for dealing with swine flu on a residential university campus, said Dr. Sharon Anderson, vice president of student development.
“We had very few incidences,” Anderson said. “Only six out of 400 students is quite remarkable.”
The cases of the H1N1 virus, as the illness is also known, were found on the first floor of Gerhart Hall and all floors of Harp Hall. Both are women’s dormitories located on a hill near the center of campus.
When a few students broke out in a fever with high temperatures, they were sent to a medical clinic in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Dominican Hospital to get standard checkups. Their illnesses were found to be H1N1.
The six female students were officially diagnosed with the virus on Sept. 16. Two of the students returned home to ride out the illness and have since returned to campus, Anderson said. The other four out-of-state students were quickly quarantined at the campus Wellness Center until 24 hours after their symptoms had completely passed.
Anderson said the campus has since been bombarded with sterilizing wipes and informational posters. The students have also been bombarded with information via campus e-mail.
“A lot of questions have been asked, and I think we’ve been very responsive,” Anderson said.
The campus has bustled with paranoia, said Bethany sophomore Shaina Williams on Monday, Sept. 21.
“Everyone has been using hand sanitizer like crazy,” Williams said.
Williams added that many students have been going to the health center when they’ve not felt well, fearful of contracting the H1N1 virus. Many students also are taking vitamin C supplements, she said.
Anderson said she has been in contact with the Santa Cruz County Health Department to review details and protocol.
“The virus ran its course, and all the students are back in school,” she said.
Three weeks ago, a staff person was also diagnosed with H1N1 and recovered, Anderson said.
The confirmed cases at Bethany come following a local swine flu emergency resolution that was declared by the county board of supervisors in May and is still in effect.
As of Monday, 13 people in the county have been hospitalized for more than 24 hours as probable or confirmed swine flu cases — three were admitted into an intensive care unit, and one death was reported.
The H1N1 outbreak at Bethany is not included in these numbers, because county health care providers are no longer being asked to report mild cases.
Anderson said the students who were quarantined laughed about their predicament during their stay at the Wellness Center, a small cottage-like structure with beds, a bathroom and shower.
“Because their symptoms were flu-like and they thought it was funny that they had to be quarantined,” Anderson said. “But, we took very good care and made it fun for them. Hopefully, the worst is over.”
Two of the students were released from quarantine Friday, Sept. 18, and the other two returned to their dorms Saturday, Sept. 19.
