CDS provides alternatives for sick students

MU will offer carry-out meals and hand sanitizer.

By Shaina Cavazos

Published Sept. 11, 2009

Campus Dining Services is providing sick students with alternatives to visiting dining halls to combat the transmission of swine flu. MU spokesman Christian Basi said the university is planning to install hand sanitizers in high-traffic areas across campus by the end of the week.

"Campus Dining Services along with residential life has installed hand sanitizers several months ago," Basi said. "Those have been installed in the food areas as you walk into the buildings. They have been there for some time."

Basi said the hand sanitizers in high-traffic areas across campus would be installed in classrooms, hallways and computer labs.

According to the CDS and Residential Life Web sites, any sick student can have a friend fill out a form to receive a carry-out meal that counts as a meal on the student's dining plan. One or more meals can be picked up at a time.

"One of the reasons Campus Dining Services made those get well packs was because obviously we wanted to do anything we could for the students," Basi said. "Making them travel when they are sick is something we want to avoid."

After reports of H1N1 virus cases on campus, the university is urging students to avoid leaving their residence halls if they are sick or suspect they have the flu. Basi said students could cut down on flu transmission by taking advantage of the germ-fighting options Residential Life and CDS have put into place.

"The novel H1N1 spreads much the same way as the seasonal flu through coughing or sneezing," MU Health Care spokesman Matt Splett said. "Sometimes people can be infected by touching something with the virus on it, such as a door handle, and touching that to their mouth or nose."

Splett encouraged students to avoid big crowds and anyone showing symptoms, as these are easy ways to pick up germs and the flu virus. He also does not recommend sharing food or drink.

"If you have the H1N1 virus, you really need to isolate yourself," Splett said. "There are certain tips you can follow, but you want to follow good hand hygiene and use hand sanitizers and gels."

Kit Wagar, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services spokesman, said the flu is spread by micro-droplets that can latch on hard surfaces such as tables or drinking glasses. He said the simplest way to keep these droplets out of your body is by washing your hands.

"We have been watching this virus very closely in the southern hemisphere, and the thing they found that sounds extraordinarily simple is: The best way to avoid the flu is to wash your hands a lot," Wagar said. "It sounds really simple, but nobody does it."

The Student Health Center Web site stated a cough, sore throat or fever could indicate a case of the flu. The center recommended limiting contact with the eyes, nose or mouth, as the flu can be spread through person-to-person contact.

"You should reduce the number of times you are drinking after somebody or eating after somebody," Wagar said. "We know this is very contagious, more contagious than the seasonal flu. People just need to say 'Hey, I'll eat my own food.'"