My first assignment as a new student worker in Lycoming's Office of College Relations was to write a story about how the college was handling the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu.

Ironically, while working on this article, I came down with the flu.

Fortunately, it was only the seasonal flu and not the H1N1 virus. The college treats seasonal flu cases and H1N1 cases alike because unless a test is given, there is no way to tell the difference between illnesses.

I can say from first-hand experience that the college means business when it comes to the flu. After a visit to the college's Health Services, I was asked to self-isolate and was quarantined to my room until I had no fever for 24 hours.

I was asked, and chose not to attend classes, go to athletic practices or work, enter the dining hall or leave my residence hall. The only places I could be were my room and my floor's bathroom.

"We've been planning for three years for this. We knew it was coming," said Sondra Stipcak, the college's director of health services.

According to Stipcak, the college is following the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Health for dealing with the H1N1 virus.

Stipcak said Lycoming is being proactive in its attack on the virus.

"We've reviewed the current cleaning products the college uses and made sure they are a commercial-grade disinfectant," said Stipcak. "We are also looking into areas where it may be appropriate to place hand sanitizing stations."

Although Lycoming is doing what it can to prevent the spread of the virus, it is primarily up to the students, faculty and staff to keep themselves healthy. Stipcak asked, "What are you doing to prevent the spread?"

With a word like "pandemic" being repeatedly mentioned by the media and talked about no matter where you turn, it is hard not to worry about the H1N1 virus. According to the state Department of Health, as of Oct. 7, there were 2,862 confirmed cases in the Pennsylvania and 11 confirmed cases in Lycoming County.

The H1N1 virus is very similar to the seasonal flu. The virus is contagious and can be spread from human to human. H1N1 spreads when coughing or sneezing, which releases the germs into the air or when a person coughs or sneezes and then touches a common object, such as a door knob, leaving the virus on the object for another person to pick up.

It is hard to distinguish H1N1 from the regular seasonal flu because the symptoms are virtually the same. The CDC reports that symptoms include coughing and sneezing, body aches and headaches, fever and sore throat, running and stuffy nose, chills and fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

The steps people can take to protect themselves from infection are simple.

First, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle: wash hands often with warm, soapy water, get enough sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, and, if possible, take a multivitamin everyday to supplement the immune system.

Everyone should arm themselves with a few simple products that could potentially save them from infection. These products include tissues for coughing and sneezing into and Clorox wipes for disinfecting common surfaces like door knobs and computer key pads.

Used tissues should be placed in the garbage, which should be removed on a regular basis.

Along with washing hands with warm and soapy water, it would be wise for everyone to buy hand sanitizer to use in their homes and offices.

Biggs is a sophomore corporate communications major at Lycoming College. He is a resident of Eaton.

Life in a College Town is published each Monday in the Education section. To submit a column for consideration, e-mail education@sungazette.com.

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