Swine flu precautions result in quarantines

By Brittany Benjamin

It is Monday of the sixth week of the quarter, and senior Cara Matsukane is watching an episode of "Lost" alone in her room. For many students, such an evening would be a welcomed relief from the stress of midterm cramming and late-night papers.

For Matsukane, it is her first night under quarantine.

Matsukane is one of five Santa Clara students who were evaluated and tested Monday at the Cowell Student Health Center as suspected cases of the H1N1 virus. These were the first suspected cases on campus.

Until test results return, these students have been placed in settings where they can quarantine themselves, meeting Santa Clara County Public Health Department and university protocol.

None of the students have recently traveled to Mexico or had any contact with lab-confirmed swine flu cases, Peggie Robinson, clinic manager, said in a post to Cowell's online blog.

Along with one student living off campus, three students living in Swig Hall, Campisi Hall and Nobili Hall were moved to on-campus isolation locations Monday, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Matsukane, a page designer for The Santa Clara, self-isolated herself in a room of her off-campus home.

"It's a little bit of overkill," said Matsukane, who has to wear a mask to protect her housemates when she walks downstairs to her kitchen.

Like the other four students, Matsukane developed flu-like symptoms over the weekend. She went into Cowell on Monday, where they tested her for strep throat.

When results came back negative, new tests were taken to be sent to county to determine if she has swine flu.

Cowell physician Lauren Salaices said there have been numerous cases of students coming to Cowell thinking they're exhibiting signs of swine flu.

"We've definitely had some disappointed patients that wanted to be tested for reassurance," she said.

Students that come in with flu-like symptoms must wear masks in the waiting room, and the physicians cover their nose and mouth while treating them.

In order to be tested, patients have to have a temperature above 100 degrees and must display at least two other symptoms of a cough, sore throat, running nose or congestion.

"I don't think it's a perfect criteria," said Salaices, who believes that the 100 degree fever criteria is too low, as most people with the flu have a higher fever.

Having been tested, Matsukane is not allowed to go to class. The Office of Student Life is in contact with the students' professors in order to assist students in getting missed work, said Jane Barrantes, assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services.

They are also receiving food delivery services three times a day.

Matsukane said she does not think she has the H1N1 virus.

"Everyone thinks it's kind of funny," Matsukane said of her friends' reactions. "No one thinks I have it."

According to an e-mail forwarded to St. Clare Hall students by Leanne Tifft, graduate resident director of St. Clare, two students have been placed in private rooms in St. Clare.

These quarantines came after St. Clare residents received an e-mail April 30 from Tifft. The e-mail stated that the St. Clare lounge would be turned into a quarantine room.

"I was simply told that it was a precaution in case one of our students does come down with that," said junior Sean Brachvogel, president-elect of Associated Students and desk receptionist in St. Clare. "The university is doing what they can to look out for the students' best interests."

If a patient is tested, it is recommended they quarantine themselves until test results are available, which can often take several days or longer, depending upon the impact on Santa Clara Public Heath Laboratory, Salaices said. She said there are three levels of testing.

The County Health Department determines first if it is influenza and then if it is a human influenza.

If it is not a human strand, it is then sent to the CDC to determine if it is swine flu. The process could take up to 10 days, according to Salaices.

If the test is negative for swine flu, no further isolation is needed. If preliminary tests show probable swine flu, the students must remain isolated until 10 days after the illness or until all symptoms are resolved, the e-mail said.

"This news may cause some to feel very anxious about the health and welfare of members of the campus community," Robinson said in the Cowell blog post.

"Be assured that the university is strictly following the CDC guidelines and is staying in close contact with the County Health Department," she said.

Tifft said the location of St. Clare made it a good location for quarantine. Two stories high, St. Clare has no elevator and each room is equipped with its own bathroom.

"There is no other contact with other people," said Tifft, adding that the quarantine was only temporary while the students wait to hear back about their test results. "It's all very sensational, and it shouldn't be," she said. Student dormitories are not the only campus institutions to see changes as a result of the swine flu pandemic.

Sunday student Mass at Mission Church was conducted differently as a result of other precautions against swine flu. These changes, which limited the amount of physical contact with others, occurred at the request of the Bishop of San Jose.

Communion was not offered orally, which means the minister did not place the hosts directly on the tongues of churchgoers.

The usual signs of peace offered to neighbors were exchanged for wishes of peace. The 'Our Father' prayer was recited without holding hands with neighbors.

Despite these precautions, as of Tuesday, there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu at Santa Clara.

University President Michael Engh, S.J., sent out an e-mail to all undergraduate students Tuesday morning, updating them on the situation. He also said a letter had been sent out to all undergraduate parents informing them of the university's precautions.

As for those students in quarantine, "I have to imagine it's a really lonely and boring experience," Salaices said.

Contact Brittany Benjamin at (408) 554-4546 or brbenjamin@scu.edu.