Athletic Department prepares for H1N1
Jake Sonner
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Web Exclusives
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the H1N1 virus can stay active for up to eight hours after being deposited on any surface by an infected individual.
That's more than enough time for a college athlete to grab the virus off a set of training weights, in a pre or postgame handshake, or off a shared water bottle.
H1N1 ran so rampant in Texas high schools that officials cancelled spring sporting events. Baseball, softball and track seasons ended early.
Bonnies head athletic trainer Kevin Blasczienski said the Atlantic 10 is currently not prepared to cancel athletics. The current policy states that programs capable of fielding a team must do so.
Conference rivals Xavier, Duquesne, George Washington, La Salle have reported cases of H1N1. Almost all the campuses in the conference have said the virus is creeping closer and closer to their respective doorsteps.
"We have already begun taking steps to respond," Blasczienski said. "I've actually spoken to the schools (with outbreaks of H1N1). We try to stay in contact with them before traveling there."
While the university has already reported one case of H1N1, Blasczienski said there is a real concern that athletes on the road might bring the virus back with them.
"We don't plan on having anyone on the field with it," he said. "Ideally you're not going to have interaction with infected players."
But the virus' incubation period is usually between one and four days. It can be as long as seven days.
"I don't think there is any real way to counteract that," Blasczienski said. "I don't think you cancel all sports seasons because there is a chance that someone has it."
Sanitation procedures are already in place for shared athletic areas like the S.D. Boser Strength and Conditioning Room and Blasczienski's sports medicine room. Hand sanitizer dispensers are located in both.
Blasczienski went into action this summer before the athletes arrived, educating himself on the virus and its symptoms.
That's more than enough time for a college athlete to grab the virus off a set of training weights, in a pre or postgame handshake, or off a shared water bottle.
H1N1 ran so rampant in Texas high schools that officials cancelled spring sporting events. Baseball, softball and track seasons ended early.
Bonnies head athletic trainer Kevin Blasczienski said the Atlantic 10 is currently not prepared to cancel athletics. The current policy states that programs capable of fielding a team must do so.
Conference rivals Xavier, Duquesne, George Washington, La Salle have reported cases of H1N1. Almost all the campuses in the conference have said the virus is creeping closer and closer to their respective doorsteps.
"We have already begun taking steps to respond," Blasczienski said. "I've actually spoken to the schools (with outbreaks of H1N1). We try to stay in contact with them before traveling there."
While the university has already reported one case of H1N1, Blasczienski said there is a real concern that athletes on the road might bring the virus back with them.
"We don't plan on having anyone on the field with it," he said. "Ideally you're not going to have interaction with infected players."
But the virus' incubation period is usually between one and four days. It can be as long as seven days.
"I don't think there is any real way to counteract that," Blasczienski said. "I don't think you cancel all sports seasons because there is a chance that someone has it."
Sanitation procedures are already in place for shared athletic areas like the S.D. Boser Strength and Conditioning Room and Blasczienski's sports medicine room. Hand sanitizer dispensers are located in both.
Blasczienski went into action this summer before the athletes arrived, educating himself on the virus and its symptoms.
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