Summer camps set to combat swine flu

By Yaffi Spodek

Issue of June 26, 2009 / 4 Tammuz 5769

Forget bug bites and poison ivy — this season, it’s the spread of the H1N1 ‘swine flu’ virus that many camps are trying to tackle. More so than the classroom, camp conditions may be a prime breeding ground for the spread of swine flu, as campers often live in close, communal quarters, sharing bunk beds, bathrooms, food and, inevitably, germs. As schools let out and summer camps prepare for an influx of campers and staff, precautionary measures are being taken to keep everyone as healthy as possible.

At Camp Morasha in Lakewood, Pa — home to over 500 campers, including close to 300 from Long Island — the directors and nurses are taking no chances as they gear up for opening day, scheduled for June 29.

In a letter sent out last week, parents and staff were notified of a new,

stricter protocol regarding Morasha’s health policy for the summer.

“In coordination with the Pennsylvania and Wayne County Health

Departments and in accordance with the CDC (Centers for Disease

Control) recommendations, our camp medical staff requires that any

staff member or camper who has been diagnosed with the flu, or has

exhibited flu-like symptoms within the 48 hours prior to coming to

camp, must remain at home,” the letter said. “The camper or staff

member may come to camp after all symptoms have been resolved for 48

hours and are free of any fever-reducing medication for a full 48-hour

period.”

Flu-like symptoms, according to the letter, include fever of 100

degrees or higher, sore throat, nausea and/or vomiting, headache,

cough, diarrhea and runny or stuffed nose. Any staff member or camper

who exhibits these symptoms once they are in camp will be swabbed for

the influenza-A virus. If they test positive they will be sent home

until symptom and fever-free and off any fever-reducing medication.

“We understand that this may be a disappointing experience and an

inconvenience for you,” the letter continued. “However, we must

consider the health and safety of the entire camp community. It is

much better to have a delayed start for a camper or staff member than

to risk introducing an easily transmittable illness to the camp

population.”

Morasha has also installed washing stations and Purell dispensers in

key locations around the campus to keep germs at bay, specifically in

the camp kitchen, where waiters will wear gloves and adhere to even

stricter sanitary practices than usual. As another precaution, staff

members will be trained during orientation to learn about the symptoms

of the flu so that campers who contract it can be properly isolated to

prevent spread.

The policy outlined in the letter was developed by Morasha’s head

nurse, Karen Perl, who consulted with several doctors and nurses from

other sleep away camps, many of which sent out similar health alerts.

Camp Lavi, which also hosts a large contingent of campers from the

Five Towns area, sent a letter last week as well. Like Morasha, it is

adhering to recommendations from the Pennsylvania health department,

requiring sick campers to remain at home, and mandating that those who

become sick will be sent home, if necessary.

“We are working closely with our medical and professional staff to

minimize the chance of any viral illness spreading in camp,” the Camp

Lavi letter read. “As you know, the measures that are being put in

place will minimize the potential of exposure, but cannot completely

eliminate the risk.”

Lavi’s letter noted that the best way to limit the spread of any

virus is by washing hands several times a day, leading the camp to

install alcohol free hand sanitizer dispensers in each bunk as well as

near the dining room, canteen and other heavily populated areas in the

camp. Their staff will also be trained to recognize flu symptoms and

prevent the spread as much as possible.

Sleep away camps are not alone in trying to combat this critical

health issue. HALB’s Avnet Day Camp is also on a heightened health

alert, according to Director Jack Tarzik.

“There’s a Department of Health meeting on Tuesday that our health

directors will attend and based on whatever information we get on

Tuesday, we will be following up accordingly,” he told The Jewish

Star. “We also have a staff presentation on Wednesday and our health

director will be addressing the staff in terms of what they need to be

on the lookout for — what procedures to be following in camp, as

preventative measures, and of course we will be communicating with

parents should there be any situation that needs to be addressed.”

In an attempt to address this timely health concern, the Foundation

for Jewish Camps organized four conference calls on June 17 and 18, to

convene a “virtual table of Jewish camp professionals to discuss,

network and share what is taking place to campers and staff with

flu-like symptoms in the camp setting,” according to their recent

newsletter. The letter also included a suggested list of ideas gleaned

from the conference call, to help camps formulate policies and

protocol regarding sick campers and staff members.

However, these precautionary measures may not have been implemented

in time to help some camps avoid a flu outbreak. Just days into the

first summer session of Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia, dozens of campers

came down with the flu last week, though it was unknown if it was the

H1N1 strain of the virus. A similar outbreak occurred at Camp Daniel

Boone in North Carolina, where dozens of boy scouts came down with the

flu two weeks ago, and two kids tested positive for H1N1.

On June 16, Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Maria Torroella

Carney announced the county’s first death –– a woman with confirmed

H1N1 Influenza A virus, who recently gave birth. To date, Nassau

County has had 74 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus.

According to the Nassau health department, the same groups at risk

for seasonal flu-related complications are considered to be at risk

for H1N1 Influenza A virus-related complications. These high-risk

groups include children under five years old, pregnant women,

residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities, adults

aged 65 and over, and people with underlying medical conditions such

as asthma, diabetes, hematological disorders, metabolic disorders, and

immuno-suppression.

Dr. Carney advises individuals to protect themselves by washing hands

often, covering nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing, avoiding

contact with eyes, nose or mouth, avoiding close contact with sick

people, and staying home when sick.