With five cases of the H1N1 flu confirmed at Loyola, the university committee designed to manage this emergency, has already started taking precautions against the disease spreading.

Alicia Bourque, director of University Counseling and Health Services, Ann H. Cary, professor and director of the School of Nursing and Marcia “Cissy” Petty, vice president for student affairs and associate provost, make up this team.

Bourque explained they have been planning since spring what the plan of action would be if a student became infected.

“We will be sending students who test positive for the H1N1 to their homes; however, if this is not possible, we will be isolating them in their rooms where we have already set up a food delivery system for the students to be able to eat, where the Resident Assistant will take the food to the student,” she said.

Infected students will remain in isolation until they are fever free, without medication, for 24 hours, as the Center for Disease Control recommended.

While there isn’t a vaccine ready to attack this disease, the seasonal flu vaccine will be available starting Sept. 3.

The university also has a plan in place in case in the number of confirmed cases in the university increase.

“Should this happen, we will continue to have classes through Blackboard, as is done during a hurricane evacuation,” she said.

The university has distributed flyers and posters to warn of symptoms and describe preventative measures, including hand washing with soap and water, avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth and covering the nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing and disposing of the tissue.

In addition, according to an Aug. 31 press release from the Office of Public Affairs, the university has placed antibacterial hand sanitizers in multiple locations around campus.

Dining Services is also monitoring protocols in its dish sanitation process.

Daniela Machado, mass communication sophomore, said she is one student who has the virus.

Machado said she started feeling ill on Sunday when she moved into her dorm.

“I thought it was just my throat, so I didn’t do anything. I just kept moving in,” she said. “I coughed incessantly on Monday. I couldn’t stop coughing.”

As the week progressed, Machado noticed she was feeling worse.

“On Tuesday morning my roommate was worried, so I went to the school nurse,” she said. “The nurse told me I probably didn’t have the it, but they checked anyway.”

Machado had to monitor her fever to see if her health was improving.

The highest fever she reported was 101 but while she was waiting for the results of some tests, she reported a fever of 104.

She started taking a pill to treat the flu, taking two the first day, and then one a day for the next four days.

Machado, however, said she has tried to maintain a good sense of humor through this difficult time.

“My whole body hurts when I cough, my teeth hurt when I blow my nose, and my scalp hurts when I sneeze,” she said.

This has led Machado and her roommate to change the way they live in their dorm.

“I stay in a corner so I can stay in bed and so I don’t bother my roommate,” she said. “She comes in with a mask, gets her stuff and then leaves.”

She said that her friends have made this tough experience a lot easier for her.

“My friends will bring me food. My Gamma Phi (Beta) sisters and my boyfriend have made my life easier. They call me and bring me stuff all the time,” she said.

While Machado spends most of the day by herself in her room, she said she doesn’t mind.

“I don’t get lonely, because I’m an only child, so I am kind of used to it,” she said.

Eduardo Gonzalez can be reached at [email protected]