2008 Woodie Awards
Education is key to prevention for the Avian Influenza
Christina DiLieto
Issue date: 3/30/06 Section: News
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Like any ordinary day, students were scattered around the small Health
Services room at Salve Regina. They were there seeking some kind of remedy for the typical minor aliments of average college students. Behind the room is the office of Bonnie Fischer, nurse practitioner at the university who knows about a more serious aliment that is on the verge of effecting students like those who sat patiently in Health Services that afternoon.
"You look at the university as a small aspect of society in general and it could be, if it's a bad flu virus, it can be just as devastating on the university campus as it is on the entire population," Fischer commented on the Avian Influenza which has swept across Southern Europe and China since 2003.
Fisher who has been researching the Avian Influenza and keeping up on recent news believes its effects would be similar to those of other pandemics in the past if it makes its way into The United States. Like one of the most devastating pandemics in history in 1918, the Avian Influenza more commonly known as "the bird flu" will hit a younger population, people most likely between the ages of 18-24.
According to a recent poll conducted by USA Today, 60% of Americans are worried about the bird flu. However, the survey also revealed that only half of the American population follows media coverage regarding the new influenza. That 50% most likely includes many college students who are too busy or don't take an interest to the news. The majority of Americans are concerned, but because the bird flu is not yet in this country and only contacted through bird-to-human contact, tend to overlook it.
In an on-line survey done through a popular college "blog" database called Facebook, only five out of 20 Salve students said they watched the news at least once a week and were informed about the bird flu. Gail Jackson the Infection Control Coordinator at The Newport Hospital thinks that education is very important in informing, especially young people about the bird flu. "Education is big, prevention, having food and medicine at home in case of a quarantine, reading up on it, watching the news." Jackson strongly urges education and awareness for the Newport and East Bay Community.
Services room at Salve Regina. They were there seeking some kind of remedy for the typical minor aliments of average college students. Behind the room is the office of Bonnie Fischer, nurse practitioner at the university who knows about a more serious aliment that is on the verge of effecting students like those who sat patiently in Health Services that afternoon.
"You look at the university as a small aspect of society in general and it could be, if it's a bad flu virus, it can be just as devastating on the university campus as it is on the entire population," Fischer commented on the Avian Influenza which has swept across Southern Europe and China since 2003.
Fisher who has been researching the Avian Influenza and keeping up on recent news believes its effects would be similar to those of other pandemics in the past if it makes its way into The United States. Like one of the most devastating pandemics in history in 1918, the Avian Influenza more commonly known as "the bird flu" will hit a younger population, people most likely between the ages of 18-24.
According to a recent poll conducted by USA Today, 60% of Americans are worried about the bird flu. However, the survey also revealed that only half of the American population follows media coverage regarding the new influenza. That 50% most likely includes many college students who are too busy or don't take an interest to the news. The majority of Americans are concerned, but because the bird flu is not yet in this country and only contacted through bird-to-human contact, tend to overlook it.
In an on-line survey done through a popular college "blog" database called Facebook, only five out of 20 Salve students said they watched the news at least once a week and were informed about the bird flu. Gail Jackson the Infection Control Coordinator at The Newport Hospital thinks that education is very important in informing, especially young people about the bird flu. "Education is big, prevention, having food and medicine at home in case of a quarantine, reading up on it, watching the news." Jackson strongly urges education and awareness for the Newport and East Bay Community.