Serious swine should be publicized

There have been 333 influenza-like cases on campus since the beginning of this school year, but  most students remain unsure about any of the outbreaks. Unlike last semester, the university has not announced the cases because, thus far, they have not proven to be dangerous. However, if they do become serious, students should be immediately informed.

The university has refrained from sending out notifications for fear of creating campus-wide panic, which was a result of last year’s e-mail alerts. Although Student Health Services has been quietly immunizing those in dire need, students are generally not being tested on campus and are instructed to seek outside assistance.

University fears of mass commotion produced by overly publicized immunizations does seem practical as panic could lead to a drain on the vaccines, which are already in demand. It is crucial that medicine is saved for those at high risk.

Last year, the alert system was used too extensively due to confusion surrounding the gravity of swine flu. Such precautions may have seemed like a good idea at the time, to fairly inform every student, but it led to an upset state of confusion and disarray.

The university should follow common sense measures to prevent the spread of swine by promoting tips for personal health on their Web site. If a strain of the virus does start to become more serious and hospitalizations begin to occur then the school should notify all students immediately.

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