Probable H1N1 Case Hits OSU Dorm

COLUMBUS, Ohio—OSU officials say a student is diagnosed with a probable case of H1N1 in Stradley Hall.

According to the university, the student was exposed to the virus outside the university through close contact with family members that were believed to have the H1N1 virus.

The student is a 19-year-old male, freshman and a resident of Stradley Hall. The university is following recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the illness to others.

Friday morning, the student developed symptoms of the virus. A preliminary test came back negative for H1N1, but those tests are only 60 percent accurate, so he was moved to another location for isolation and is being treated and monitored.

According to OSU media relations, Stradley Hall is being disinfected and hand sanitizer placed around the building in light of the probable H1N1 case.

The university is communicating with the 450 residents of Stradley Hall. In addition, individuals who had close contact with the student over the last two days are being notified. The student health center is offering preventive medication to those individuals.

The Wilce Student Health Center, 1875 Millikin Rd., will hold clinic hours for students tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students also can call the clinic’s advice nurse line at 614-292-4321.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

FRANKLIN COUNTY H1N1 UPDATE
Earlier Friday, officials confirmed a new probable H1N1 influenza case Friday afternoon and negated another.

Columbus Public Health and the Franklin County Health Department confirmed a new probable case during a Friday afternoon news conference.

Officials also confirmed Columbus’ first reported probable case came back from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention as negative.

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The departments said approximately 50 people were exposed to the Ohio State Medical Center employee who was confirmed a probable case Wednesday.

That included the five Columbus firefighters who were exposed to the probable case Monday.

Those firefighters were assisting another paramedic unit with unloading a male patient in the emergency room.

The firefighters are on medication.

Officials said two or perhaps three people of the exposed 50 were showing symptoms of H1N1 Friday.

The Columbus firefighters weren’t among those showing symptoms.

In total, Franklin County still had two probable cases of H1N1 Friday and two or possibly three suspected cases.

To put some of that in perspective, 478 people died from seasonal flu in Franklin County this past fall, and it was considered a mild flu season.

STATE H1N1 UPDATE
Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. and others provided updates Friday on Ohio’s response to the outbreak of H1N1 flu across the state.

As of Friday, May 1, the confirmed case count for Ohio remained at one in Lorain County, as confirmed by lab results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There were two probable cases in Franklin and one each in Holmes and Portage counties.

Probable cases have preliminary tests indicating an Influenza A infection, but confirmatory tests are needed to determine if the person is infected with H1N1.

In addition, 41 suspected cases were awaiting testing.

“It has been a busy week as the Ohio Department of Health has taken several measures to help protect Ohioans,” Jackson said. “Likewise, because most regions of Ohio have at least a few suspect cases, there are common-sense steps that Ohioans can take to help to protect themselves and their families,” Jackson said.

During the briefing, Jackson outlined the state’s efforts in several areas:
- The Strategic National Stockpile materials have arrived in Ohio: Among those assets are medicines and personal protective equipment. ODH is working with state and local partners on staging and distribution.
- Disease trackers—or epidemiologists—are working with federal and local health officials to identify and investigate cases of the H1N1 virus.
- The ODH information line has field more than 1,000 calls from Ohioans. The information line has a Spanish-speaking operator available. The phone number is 866-800-1404.
- The ODH laboratory has tested 120 samples to confirm influenza A and sent probable samples to the CDC for confirmation.

SANITIZING PRODUCTS SELLING OUT FAST
Several companies have seen an increase in retail sales as surgical masks, hand sanitizer and other flu-protection products flew off the shelves.

Flu-protection products have been selling quickly during the last week due to the H1N1 influenza. Target stores were offering rain checks for unavailable products.

Shoppers also have been buying sanitizing wipes to disinfect household surfaces.

One shopper said he has stepped up his efforts to clean both inside his home and vehicle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said alcohol-based cleaners can help to kill the new virus.

Although some shelves were empty Friday morning, Target is replenishing its supply daily.

H1N1 & PROTECTING PARISHIONERS
Some NBC 4 viewers wondered about what, if any, precautions churches were taking to protect parishioners.

“I do not see any major changes in fellow worshippers. So I do believe in practicality. FGolks have to make that decision for themselves,“ said Timothy Tannehill who attended Mass Friday.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus was not suspending or changing the Rite of Peace when parishioners shake hands or taking Holy Communion, but urged parishioners to exercise prudence.

That was similar to what King Avenue United Methodist Church was doing. The minister will announce that the ushers distributing Communion will have washed hands.

“We’ve decided that the server will give the bread to each individual and that way it will not be touched by more than two people,“ said Rev. John Keeny, of King Avenue United Methodist Church.

The congregation is never required to participate in Communion, and members don’t have to shake hands before or after the service if they don’t want to.

“We’ve also talked about making sure our nursery toys are clean. They will be washed. We also will have sanitizers around the congregation,“ Keeny said.

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