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Georgetown sees 50 cases of H1N1 flu

September 10, 2009


More than 50 Georgetown students have reported cases of H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, Assistant Vice President for Student Health Doctor James Welsh said Wednesday.

“Now we need to be serious about these things that we’ve been talking about,” Welsh said, referring to prevention efforts like hand washing, education, and the distribution of facemasks. The number of infected students did not include infections reported on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“We definitely think it’s here in the community,” the head of the University Hospital’s task force on H1N1 Dr. Brendan Furlong said. According to Furlong, it is “very likely” that individuals who have flu-like symptoms are infected H1N1, because it is not flu season.

Although more students are contracting H1N1, doctors at the Student Health Center will only provide prescriptions for Tamiflu, a popular flu medication, to some students.

“[Tamiflu] has only a marginal benefit in helping people,” said Dr. Furlong said

The only students who will receive Tamiflu prescriptions will be those with conditions like asthma or heart problems that could result in complications from H1N1.

Michael Madoff (SFS ‘13), a student who began exhibiting flu-like symptoms on Friday,  received a Tamiflu prescription because of his asthma. He said his search for Tamiflu was hampered, however, by a lack of open pharmacies over the weekend.

Welsh stressed that only students with chronic illnesses, significant symptoms from H1N1, and prolonged H1N1 illness need to receive treatment from the Student Health Center.

“We’re not going to turn people away,” Welsh added, saying that any students who insisted on being treated at the Student Health Center would receive help.

H1N1 tests will be limited to students who are hospitalized.

“It’s not a great test,” Welsh said. “There’s no reason to go see a doctor just to get tested.”

Associate Provost Marjory Blumenthal said a variety of electronic methods are being explored for keeping ill students up-to-date on schoolwork, including Blackboard and the possible development of “virtual classrooms” by Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship.

In an e-mail to faculty members, Provost James O’Donnell estimated that ill students could be out of class for four to five days, and discouraged professors from requiring sick students to obtain notes from the Student Health Center.

“Medical professionals will simply be too busy to comply with such requests,” O’Donnell wrote.



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Steve Thompson

“Michael Madoff (SFS ‘13), a student who began exhibiting flu-like symptoms on Friday, received a Tamiflu prescription because of his asthma. He said his search for Tamiflu was hampered, however, by a lack of open pharmacies over the weekend.” REALLY? Every CVS is open all day Saturday and Sunday and the Dupont Cirlce pharmacy is open 24/7.