Keeping an Eye on Influenza Chuck Steenburgh February 07, 2025 - 12:49 pm February 07, 2025
Sometimes, germs and sickness can be a fact of life in a congregate living environment – such as on a college campus. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, epidemiologists – public health workers who monitor causes of sickness and injury – are an essential part of a healthcare team.
Recently, St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) Health Services was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health for participation in the Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network for the 2023-24 flu season. With about 4,200 sites making weekly observations and reports of symptoms and testing data, the network is a key part of the CDC’s efforts to monitor influenza and detect unusual influenza-like illnesses such as COVID and RSV.
Each year, the CDC reaches out to states, who in turn work to find clinical volunteers for the surveillance network. Director of Health Services Deborah Bello responded to the state’s call for assistance and SMCM became a part of the network.
“We were honored to be approached by the Maryland Department of Health to join the effort in influenza surveillance,” said Director of Health Services Deborah Bello. “Our medical team was already in the trenches diagnosing and treating influenza and conducting vaccination clinics, so it seemed only natural to be part of this early warning system of monitoring and identifying influenza trends on campus.”
At the same time, senior biology major Samuel Cross was looking for an epidemiology-related St. Mary’s Project topic. After his interest in infectious disease research was piqued after taking an epidemiology class, his instructor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Patricia Santos-Ciminera, suggested he reach out to Health Services.
Cross developed a questionnaire for current students that expanded upon the data that was being collected by Health Services. The initial goal of his research was to investigate vaccine efficacy on campus. His research was eye-opening and revealed that the progression of the flu was not as cut-and-dried as people might expect. Ultimately, he is hopeful that his research will provide clues for developing a system to combat outbreaks of flu-like illnesses on campus.
“This research so far has shown me just how much people with little or no public health knowledge truly know about influenza and other transmissible diseases,” said Cross. “Everyone has their own strengths and goals. However, it is my job to use the knowledge I have to educate those around me so they can protect themselves and others.”
“To have the opportunity to share this data with Samuel was an additional reward. Not only is his St. Mary’s Project an innovative population health endeavor, but it also contributes to overall campus safety,” added Bello. “Such collaborations between staff and students not only enhance learning experiences but also build relationships that contribute to student success rates.”
Seahawks – and their families – can take comfort in the fact that one of their own has joined forces with those entrusted to care for our health in combatting this common – and potentially dangerous – illness that returns each year to our campus.
Sometimes, germs and sickness can be a fact of life in a congregate living environment – such as on a college campus. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, epidemiologists – public health workers who monitor causes of sickness and injury – are an essential part of a healthcare team.
Recently, St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) Health Services was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health for participation in the Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network for the 2023-24 flu season. With about 4,200 sites making weekly observations and reports of symptoms and testing data, the network is a key part of the CDC’s efforts to monitor influenza and detect unusual influenza-like illnesses such as COVID and RSV.
Each year, the CDC reaches out to states, who in turn work to find clinical volunteers for the surveillance network. Director of Health Services Deborah Bello responded to the state’s call for assistance and SMCM became a part of the network.
“We were honored to be approached by the Maryland Department of Health to join the effort in influenza surveillance,” said Director of Health Services Deborah Bello. “Our medical team was already in the trenches diagnosing and treating influenza and conducting vaccination clinics, so it seemed only natural to be part of this early warning system of monitoring and identifying influenza trends on campus.”
At the same time, senior biology major Samuel Cross was looking for an epidemiology-related St. Mary’s Project topic. After his interest in infectious disease research was piqued after taking an epidemiology class, his instructor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Patricia Santos-Ciminera, suggested he reach out to Health Services.
Cross developed a questionnaire for current students that expanded upon the data that was being collected by Health Services. The initial goal of his research was to investigate vaccine efficacy on campus. His research was eye-opening and revealed that the progression of the flu was not as cut-and-dried as people might expect. Ultimately, he is hopeful that his research will provide clues for developing a system to combat outbreaks of flu-like illnesses on campus.
“This research so far has shown me just how much people with little or no public health knowledge truly know about influenza and other transmissible diseases,” said Cross. “Everyone has their own strengths and goals. However, it is my job to use the knowledge I have to educate those around me so they can protect themselves and others.”
“To have the opportunity to share this data with Samuel was an additional reward. Not only is his St. Mary’s Project an innovative population health endeavor, but it also contributes to overall campus safety,” added Bello. “Such collaborations between staff and students not only enhance learning experiences but also build relationships that contribute to student success rates.”
Seahawks – and their families – can take comfort in the fact that one of their own has joined forces with those entrusted to care for our health in combatting this common – and potentially dangerous – illness that returns each year to our campus.