H1N1 is here!

Winter has began and as I have read the news in several websites including foxnews.com that this flu season is going to be horrific. Recently the death of a 22 year old psychology major at the University of Nebraska has officials stating the cause of death was the H1N1 flu. There seems to be several reports of the Nation’s Universities reporting suspected flu like symptoms with a large majority of the student body. This can hit as close as MSSU or PSU as I hear on fourstates.com that a confermed case of H1N1 has been reported at PSU. As Foxnews.com stated Wake Forest University in North Carolina said there was more than 80 students that have reported flu like symptoms. Also the University of Georgia has a minimum of 23 students with these symptoms, what about Georgia Tech who has reported 100 of its students with these same symptoms. Attendance policies are being modified throughout the Nation’s Universities to accomidate students. They are asking students to see a doctor and stay home if signs of this flu have appeared, “Not to go to school!”

I have spoke to many college students, friends, strangers, and neighbors and even fellow employees. The same statement from each one was, “I am sorry your going to college on line, that is difficult, wouldn’t want to be you.” This was very impressionable on me for some time wondering if my choice of being a non-traditional was the right move for me. As I further read these stories I am very content with being a non-traditional student and staying home. I do believe that you can’t hide and try to avoid this flu there are always going be the Joe Blow how blows his sneeze out in the open and doesn’t cover his mouth. You could be shopping or getting fuel, or as myself working and a fellow employee coughs without consideration of covering their mouth. I am concerned that this will be the next plague, we only hope that the vaccinations will help deter this horrible sickness and save the many lives it is meant to.

The fact the Universities are realizing this is a serious sickness and if their students are sick they need to see a doctor as the officials from PSU stated. You don’t want the students to miss class because education is everything. But life is ultimate, and I am happy to see PSU and others like them have realized this to be true. My eldest daughter attends a Junior College and I always fear these unforeseen issues would interfere with her education, but my top priority is to keep her safe and healthy.

As a parent, a student, and a grandma this epidemic brings the worst fear out in me. We can fight this and win this war. The H1N1 can take everything that means anything to me away, and it can you too. Take the preventive measure; wash your hands, cough in the joint of your arm, and if you feel sick please, please go to the doctor and stay home don’t go to school or work, I don’t want it and neither does anyone else. If you give the excuse you can’t afford to stay home, then ask yourself one question, do you think I want what you have, and if you by chance have the dreadful H1N1 would you be alright knowing all the people you have gotten sick could die, because you couldn’t afford staying home a few days.