Graham Health Center prepares for flu season

By Dave Groves, staff writer

To help advance awareness and preparation for the upcoming flu season, the Graham Health Center is partnering with the Michigan Department of Community Health to participate in the United States Influenza Surveillance Program.

As an Influenza Sentinel Provider, the center will submit weekly reports on influenza activity to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The reports will detail the number of patients seen with influenza-like illness, as well as the total number of patients seen. Subject cases are those involving a fever greater than 100 F and a cough and or sore throat without a known cause.

GHC Director Nancy Jansen said she and other staff at the center are pleased to participate in the effort to keep tabs on influenza activity and advance prevention strategies.

“I know the value of this in terms of giving such critical information to the state and the federal government,” Jansen said, explaining that a wide array of data acts as a lifeline to effective influenza control activities.

In addition to reporting an anonymous headcount of patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms, the center will send about three specimens per month to the laboratory at the Michigan Department of Community Health. Both preliminary test results and final reports will, in turn, be returned to the center.

“We’ll get the reports back and we’ll know what type of virus is circulating in the immediate area,” Jansen said.

Knowing whether a seasonal flu virus or the H1N1 strain is more common will be helpful in terms of promoting vaccinations and other prevention strategies. Whichever strain is bound to become more prominent, Jansen encourages the campus community to protect itself.

“We want everyone to get a seasonal flu shot,” she explained. “It can only help you.”

For more on flu prevention strategies, other health information and GHC services, visit the Graham Health Center Web site at www.oakland.edu/ghc.