5/4/09 7 pm: Statement from Dr. Jack Turco, Director, Dartmouth College Health Service
Released 7 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2009
Dr. Jack Turco, director of health services at Dartmouth, conducted public information sessions for the Dartmouth community on Monday, May 4. Approximately 40 people attended, to hear a brief update and to ask questions. To listen to audio of the noon and 6 p.m. sessions, please go to Dartmouth’s H1N1 influenza information web page at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prepare/swineflu/
Updates for the Dartmouth community:
- The College is following all guidelines issued by the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. Government.
- The College remains open.
- While seven students have reported flu-like symptoms in visits to the College infirmary (as of Monday), none have been confirmed as having either Influenza A or the H1N1 strain.
- Dartmouth received test results for three students on Monday. All three are “negative” for Influenza A, which rules out the possibility that they have H1N1 (swine flu).
- Specimens are being tested for Influenza A and B at the New Hampshire state lab in Concord. The College expects to have test results within a few days. If positive for Influenza A, the specimens will then be tested for usual seasonal subtypes. If negative for these seasonal subtypes, the specimens will then be sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lab in Atlanta, for confirmation of the H1N1 subtype (commonly known as swine flu).
- Dartmouth students who have reported symptoms (but whose test results are not yet available) are in voluntary isolation and will be staying in single rooms for a period of time as recommended by the New Hampshire guidelines. The students have relatively mild symptoms.
- It should be remembered that there is a very good chance that these students will eventually test negative for the H1N1 strain of Influenza A. Precautions will be taken until test results are available in the next 48 to 72 hours so as to minimize the spread of the H1N1 subtype if present.
- The symptoms that constitute a suspected case include a temperature of 100 degrees and flu-like symptoms including runny nose, sore throat and cough. We anticipate that we will see additional individuals reporting these symptoms.
- Dartmouth will be distributing free hand sanitizers later this week in public areas of the campus.
The following advisory posted May 1 for visitors to campus remains in effect: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prepare/swineflu/visitormemo050109.html
The College is issuing regular updates as new information becomes available. The swine flu situation presents a very rapidly changing challenge that will require adaptation to evolving circumstances. Dartmouth policies will be revised as new developments occur and public health recommendations change. We urge members of the community to stay abreast of developments at Dartmouth and elsewhere through the following web sites:
