TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State University’s Student Health Center recently received an Excellence in Epidemiology award from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). The award recognizes the center's active participation and reporting record to the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Program during the 2006-2007 flu season.
By reporting flu cases to the ISDH, the Student Health Center helps the state agency to identify specific types of influenza viruses circulating in the area and provided other important epidemiologic data related to influenza and respiratory infections.
“We have participated in this program for 10 years and they were impressed that we have a 100 percent reporting record,†said Fran Drake, director of the Student Health Center.
The ISDH makes available free flu testing kits, free testing of the specimens and provides Indiana State students with free cold kits. Should a Pandemic Influenza outbreak occur, the ISDH has identified ISU’s Student Health Center as a testing site for collection of specimens, Drake said.
“The staff and I are very pleased with this recognition by the ISDH and the relationship we have developed with them,†Drake added.
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Contact: Fran Drake, ISU Student Health Center, (812) 237-3883 or fdrake@isugw.indstate.edu
Writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, (812) 237-3783 or pmeyer4@isugw.indstate.edu