H1N1 Swine Flu Hits Scout Camps

This week at least three Scout Camps report outbreaks of the H1N1 swine flu virus;

In Asheville North Carolina Camp Daniel Boone

Camp Daniel Boone workers will continue monitoring campers and staff throughout the summer after 47 people came down with symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus, or swine flu. “We feel like we're not over and done with it, and we're going to monitor the situation throughout the summer,” said camp director Dan Rogers. “We don't anticipate anything further, but like a good scout, we will be prepared.”

In Colorado San Isabel Scout Ranch

Fourteen Boy Scouts and an adult medic have been put in quarantine at the San Isabel Boy Scout Camp after showing flu-like symptoms earlier this week. The 14 boys were taken to a Pueblo hospital where one tested positive for Type A influenza. Health officials expect to know sometime today if he has the H1N1 swine flu variety.

 

In Utah Camp Maple Dell

The Boy Scouts of America have decided to close Camp Maple Dell in Payson Canyon this week, because of confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus.

Last week as BSA staff were preparing the camp for scout troops, one person became ill. They were later found to have the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. Other staff members were checked as a precaution, and Scout Officials decided not to open the camp yet.

Management of an outbreak includes daily temperature monitoring, heightened awareness of proper hygiene practices and isolation of anyone with flu-like symptoms.

During my twelve years as a camp staff member and camp director a bug of one kind or another usually made the rounds of the staff. Usually a cold or similar virus dogged our steps for a week or two, never anything more than an inconvenience. While the H1N1 causes a relatively mild illness we should still do our best to halt outbreaks. Here are some directions form the Centers for Disease Control:

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against novel H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

The American Camping Association has issued guidelines (link opens PDF file)for avoiding and controlling outbreaks.

I'd suggest that Scoutmasters do their own screening and ask Scouts who have been symptomatic to stay home. This begins by asking every Scout “In the past week have you or anyone in your family had a fever over 100°F and a cough or sore throat?". Not every fever and cough is H1N1 but a "yes" answer to this question should alert us to a possible problem and lead to a request that the Scout be tested for H1N1 before he goes to camp.