Viewpoints: RIT Student Health Center readiness a model for other universities

Brooke Durland

Threats to public health often become challenges for college health professionals. Outbreaks of intestinal illness or seasonal flu can spread rapidly through groups of students living in close quarters such as residence halls. Students suffer temporary misery but rarely hospitalization or long-term ill effect. On occasion, cases of contagious disease, such as mumps or measles, seriously disrupt campus activity as public health officials institute measures to contain the spread of infection. Just this past spring, several campuses in the Midwest dealt with the largest outbreak of mumps in recent history. Most of us in college health today, however, have never faced a threat similar to that of pandemic flu. Avian influenza (subtype H5N1), also known as “bird flu” has been a hot topic in the media recently. While currently confined to bird populations, isolated cases of human illness have demonstrated the virulent and life-threatening nature of the disease. Despite the fact that millions of birds, both domestic and wild, have been culled, the H5N1 virus persists in these bird populations. Most of the laboratory confirmed cases in humans have resulted from direct contact with infected animals with only a few believed caused by human to human spread.

Public health experts and government officials have expressed concern that mutation of the H5N1 virus—making human to human transmission easier—could spark a pandemic, a worldwide outbreak of infection. The World Health Organization and other federal agencies are making preparations in the event of a pandemic and have urged all other communities to do so as well. The Student Health Center staff devoted time and energy over the summer preparing an emergency medical response plan for RIT students, should a pandemic occur. Utilizing resources from the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services and in collaboration with other essential campus services, SHC has developed a framework for response. We are working to ensure that on-campus health care providers and first responders are prepared to respond by providing ongoing education about avian influenza, identifying critical resources for a variety of scenarios, rehearsing emergency drills, and having medical supplies and equipment readily available. The Student Health Center is also prepared to serve as a resource for the campus community and non-student constituency.

Close coordination with the community partners such as the Monroe County Health Department is also vital to planning successful management of such an emergency. A broad range of local officials “walked” through a simulated pandemic emergency in Rochester during a tabletop exercise sponsored by the MCHD and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. A representative from RIT attended as an observer and gained valuable understanding of the impact this widespread disease would have on the entire region.

Considering the scope of impact should pandemic flu affect our campus and the limited resources to provide appropriate care to large numbers of very ill students, temporary campus closure is a real possibility. The recommendation for campus closure could be made by the SHC after consultation with public health experts. Such a decision by the RIT administration would involve careful consideration of the health and safety of students and staff as well as the implications of disruption to the academic environment.

The SHC is following the latest developments by monitoring the WHO and CDC Web sites. We are staying abreast of all recommendations made by our national organization, the American College Health Association, as well as benchmarking the activities of other colleges and universities.

We realize that many in the RIT community may have questions about pandemic flu. To help answer some of those questions, the SHC Web site, www.rit.edu/studenthealth, features a section on frequently asked questions and links to several pertinent federal agencies. It is our fervent hope that pandemic flu does not visit our campus or community; however, the SHC, in cooperation with other campus units, will be prepared to respond if it becomes necessary to do so.

Durland is RIT medical director.