Cottey prepares for possible flu outbreak

Here are some ways the Centers for Disease Control says individuals can help prevent the spread of seasonal or H1N1 flu: *Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. * Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand rub. *Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, without the aid of fever-reducing medicine, except to get medical care or for other necessities. * While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. * Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of flu.

Cottey College officials have been watching the news about H1N1 flu cases carefully. One case was reported at Pittsburg State University. An Independence, Mo., woman recently died of the illness. But so far, no students at Cottey College have come down with this particular strain of the flu.

Nevertheless, Cottey College President Dr. Judy Rogers says the school has a plan in place, just in case the flu strikes someone at the college.

"Right now, of course, we're focusing on education, the protocol to prevent," the spread of the flu among students and staff.

But should prevention fail, the college has identified a place where students with the flu can be isolated from other students, and has come up with ways students can be brought their food and lessons to enable them to keep up with classes if they're well enough to do so. Teachers also are prepared to work with students via the Internet.

"So far, we've been lucky," Rogers said.

Nevada R-5 Superintendent Dr. David Stephens said no outbreak has occurred at Nevada schools either.