"Vigilance" is the new swine-flu-fighting buzzword on Miami University's Oxford campus.
School officials have already gone to great lengths to communicate with students and parents about swine flu warning signs, how to prevent the illness and when to seek medical help if it lingers.
That's because 400 cases have been reported since the start of classes in August.
Now, they're redoubling those efforts by asking all members of the university community to take care of themselves and each other.
The move comes two days after Matthew Healey, an 18-year-old Miami freshman from the Boston suburb of Hingham, Massachusetts, died at University Hospital in Cincinnati.
He and three roommates living in Morris Hall reportedly came down with the virus around September 6. Everyone but Healey recovered.
He was transferred to University Hospital in Corryville, where he died on Saturday. Ohio health officials have yet to officially confirm if he died from swine flu or complications from it.
"He held on as long as he could," Healey's mother told the Boston Globe. "His lungs were just ravaged by this disease, but we were hoping for a miracle."
Miami's vice-president of Student Affairs, Barbara Jones, said students have put together a fund for flowers and to send cards to the family.
"He made a big impact on the residents in the short time he was there," Jones said. "He was very outgoing and had already made a lot of friends."
Morris Hall resident Tyler Gilligan said it was shocking to hear that Healey died, but added he was impressed how everyone is supporting one another.
"Everybody is upset because you don't expect people our age to pass that suddenly," said another dorm-mate, Kaylyn Cheatham.
Both Gilligan and Cheatham attended grief counseling and medical expert sessions with Miami University officials over the weekend.
"They're definitely giving us all the resources if we do feel sick," Gilligan said.
Cheatham added that people are stepping up and looking after one another.
"If somebody is sick we're making sure they're eating, getting liquids and going to the health center," she stated.
That's exactly the sort of vigilance Jones hopes will continue on campus.
"When we had a lot of students sick they were on top of it and were really thinking about it," Jones said. "However, our numbers have really dwindled in the last couple of weeks, so they're not quite as vigilant as they once were."
At the student health center, a combination of a nagging cough, parental pressure and Healey's death prompted sophomore Jamie Blaugh to see a doctor. She sat in the waiting room with a white mask over her face.
"The girl across the hall from me had swine flu and pneumonia so my mom wanted me to come in and get checked up," Blaugh said between coughs.
Gail Walenga, associate vice-president of Student Health and Wellness, said that's exactly the kind of thinking they want students to do.
"We want to be sure that we're paying attention to the students that we see – that we're giving them good instructions," she added. "If your symptoms get worse, come on back in. Give us a call. Make an appointment. Go to the emergency room if we're not open."
Parents have been calling the health center as well asking how their sons or daughters can get the care they need.
"We refer them to the Student Health Service website and we tell them that their student can come in and get care at any time," Walenga continued.
Student organizations are ramping up their communication efforts as well.
Olivia Dolan, associated student governor public relations secretary, said Student Senators are spreading the word that students need to eat healthy, get enough sleep, wash hands and cover a cough or sneeze.
"It's more of a word-of-mouth thing," Dolan stated. She indicated that many professors are understanding if students miss classes. They'd prefer that over having an entire class become sick.
Members of the Miami HAWKS – Health Advocates for Wellness Knowledge & Skills – have been that focus on illness prevention.
They've even set up an information booth in the student health center complete with the types of foods that are best for students who are not feeling particularly well.
Their work has been underway for weeks, but the Healey death has increased the sense of urgency.
"We have been stepping up a little bit to get especially focused on flu prevention and what others can do to help themselves," said HAWK Joe Scherger. "H1N1 [Swine flu] can be prevented."
Annie Colavincenzo sat at the table with Scherger and said that the Healey case brought the seriousness of the swine flu problem close to home.
"Before that happened, I really felt kind of invincible," she said.
Jones reassured students and parents that most members of the Miami community are not going to get the flu.
There are those who do won't feel well for a couple of days and then get better. And, if they don't get well, they have to take it upon themselves to get help.
"We want the parents to tell the students to be vigilant," Jones said. "We encourage the students to call the parents and let them know how they're doing."
