Education is key to prevention for the Avian Influenza

By: Christina DiLieto
Posted In: News

Like any ordinary day, students were scattered around the small Health

Services room at Salve Regina. They were there seeking some kind of remedy for the typical minor aliments of average college students. Behind the room is the office of Bonnie Fischer, nurse practitioner at the university who knows about a more serious aliment that is on the verge of effecting students like those who sat patiently in Health Services that afternoon.

“You look at the university as a small aspect of society in general and it could be, if it’s a bad flu virus, it can be just as devastating on the university campus as it is on the entire population,” Fischer commented on the Avian Influenza which has swept across Southern Europe and China since 2003.

Fisher who has been researching the Avian Influenza and keeping up on recent news believes its effects would be similar to those of other pandemics in the past if it makes its way into The United States. Like one of the most devastating pandemics in history in 1918, the Avian Influenza more commonly known as “the bird flu” will hit a younger population, people most likely between the ages of 18-24.

According to a recent poll conducted by USA Today, 60% of Americans are worried about the bird flu. However, the survey also revealed that only half of the American population follows media coverage regarding the new influenza. That 50% most likely includes many college students who are too busy or don’t take an interest to the news. The majority of Americans are concerned, but because the bird flu is not yet in this country and only contacted through bird-to-human contact, tend to overlook it.

In an on-line survey done through a popular college “blog” database called Facebook, only five out of 20 Salve students said they watched the news at least once a week and were informed about the bird flu. Gail Jackson the Infection Control Coordinator at The Newport Hospital thinks that education is very important in informing, especially young people about the bird flu. “Education is big, prevention, having food and medicine at home in case of a quarantine, reading up on it, watching the news.” Jackson strongly urges education and awareness for the Newport and East Bay Community.

Newport is part of a state-wide medical response plan against the bird flu. The state of R.I. has been divided into 10 health care regions. Newport Hospital is the lead hospital for the Newport County and East Bay Region which includes: Newport, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton and Little Compton. The secretary of health and human services in R.I. made an appearance in Providence last month to speak to the all of R.I. regions together. A few representatives from Newport Hospital attended, Jackson was one of them.

One of the most important points expressed at the “Pandemic Influenza

Community Information Session” was local actions for planning and sending out

information to the community. Jackson supports education and unity of the community for prevention against any future out breaks. “Everyone needs to have the same response not just all of R.I. but all the states together, we learned about this is 1918 so we need to do something, I don’t want to scare people, but this is reality.” Jackson thinks that as an important representative for the Newport Community she should help raise awareness but she doesn’t want to overwhelm or scare anyone.

The Newport Hospital conducted their own “Bird Flu Pandemic” staff meeting last Thursday. Director of Emergency Services, Karen Smith spoke for most of the meeting. According to Smith who spoke to a group of medical staff along with local fire fighters, police officers and other officials from Newport, “awareness is starting to build, we want to bring up the topic really just to inform people.” Her main topic of discussion was education of the community and reassurance to the public that help will be available. When it comes to informing the local community, Smith thinks “why not, this can be bigger than ever, more encompassing then we think.” She did admit that she doesn’t think the bird flu will hit anytime soon but she does want to take any available opportunity to raise the subject.

The Newport Medical Community has a tight grasp on preparation and prevention of the bird flu. However in case of a possible outbreak, they would need the help of other local departments. The fire department in particular can play a potentially important role in the safety of Newport residents. Chris Mariotti, a senior fire fighter in Newport commented on the importance of safety of the community during a future pandemic. The Newport Fire Department has not held any meetings like the hospital with any other East Bay area departments. However, they are eager and ready to take action to prevent anyone from being exposed to the influenza.

The Newport Fire Department hasn’t devised a formal plan yet in regards to the bird flu. However, according to Mariotti the department will play a large role in protecting locals and preventing them from exposure to the virus. He said, “triaging patients and protecting them from future exposure problems and exposure problems for ourselves,” would be one of the main jobs of the fire department.

So in case of any future exposure, the Newport community is going to depend on help from the fire department. Mariotti thinks it will be the responsibility of The

Newport Police Department to take care of any restrictions, closing of public places and quarantines in the event of a real outbreak. However, it is without a question that when even the slightest hint of the bird flu is present in Newport, the whole community will work together.