October 30, 2009

 

Contacts:

Greg Neill, RiverStone Health, 651-6407
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Free sessions held around community to provide awareness, prevention tips

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — While the national health care debate is focused largely on reform measures now before Congress, much local attention and concern is being focused on the H1N1 flu.

 

In a partnership to help provide accurate information on H1N1 flu and how to stop its spread, Montana State University Billings and RiverStone Health are sponsoring series of H1N1 forums in the coming weeks.

 

The forums will be led by Greg Neill, emergency preparedness coordinator with RiverStone Health. He will talk about the differences and similarities of seasonal flu and H1N1, prevention measures, how to take care of yourself if you get the flu and how to stop its spread.  The presentation will take about an hour, including time for questions.

 

The open forums are designed not only to provide accurate and up-to-date information for students, faculty and staff of MSU Billings, but also anyone in the community who desires the information.

 

The sessions, all free of charge, are scheduled at the following dates and places:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 4, 3 p.m. at the MSU Billings Downtown Campus, 2804 3rd Ave. N., Seminar Room A.
  • Thursday, Nov. 5, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the MSU Billings Student Union Building ballroom.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 11:30 a.m. at the commons area at the MSU Billings College of Technology, 3803 Central Ave.

Flu season — both the seasonal variety and H1N1 — hit early this year and has caused widespread illness especially among grade school and middle school students. At Riverside Elementary earlier this month, 26 percent of the student body was out ill with flu-like symptoms.

 

Meanwhile, officials with RiverStone Health, the local public health entity, have been busy with public awareness campaigns and flu vaccine clinics. The most recent, held Monday this week, went through 1,000 doses of vaccine in a matter of hours. More follow-up vaccination clinics are planned this fall, officials said.

 

At MSU Billings, planning and awareness campaigns for the flu season started in the summer, with reminders about self-isolation and prevention going to students, faculty and staff before the fall semester started.