With the start of a new academic year, the College’s Health Services has been working closely with the Schenectady County Health Department and the New York State Health Department to prepare for any outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus on campus.
A special Web site has been created to keep the campus up-to-date on any developments or new guidelines regarding the virus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The site also includes tips to help reduce the threat posed by the virus.
A recent survey of 165 colleges and universities by the American College Health Association showed that more than half have documented cases of the flu, which could include the H1N1 virus, according to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education. As of the week ending last Friday, 1,640 cases of "influenza-like illness" had been reported, according to the survey, which will be updated weekly. One student had been hospitalized, and no deaths had been reported. The 165 institutions enroll more than two million students, the Chronicle reported.