In the wake of the H1N1 influenza outbreak in the United States, many have taken precautions to avoid contracting the illness.

Eastern staff and faculty have also taken steps to make students, staff and faculty more aware of the virus.

Since late April and early May, students may have noticed posters on campus which promote cleanliness.

“We implemented a social marketing campaign really centered around hand washing,” said Eric Davidson, associate director of health service.

In addition to the posters and flyers, other steps have also been taken to promote cleanliness on campus.

One step has been the installation of hand sanitizers around the university.

“If you walk around, you will see a lot more hand sanitizers,” Davidson said.

Davidson said health services put some thought into the placement of the hand sanitizers and posters.

They have been used at big events such as graduation, the state track meets and Celebration festivities.

They are also located in the University Union.

“(The housing staff) wanted to put (flyers) up in all of the public areas, around bathrooms, and as people enter buildings,” said Mark Hudson, director of university housing and dining services. “And we put the hand sanitation stations by the entrance of each building.”

Davidson also believes increasing social distance can decrease the chances of spreading illnesses such as the H1N1 virus.

“We encourage that (social distance) as a personal protective behavior that student, staff and faculty engage in as well,” said Davidson.

“My personal perspective is, when you look at the traditional flu and you look at H1N1 flu, they are transmitted the same way and the things that you are going to do to prevent and protect yourself from one will be the same as what you would do to prevent and protect yourself from another,” he said. “With the H1N1 situation, I think, people are going to be more likely to carry out those protective behaviors.”

Davidson said some people do attempt to carry out behaviors such as hand washing, but do not always do these tasks appropriately.

“The issue with hand washing is that most people do not do it long enough,” Davidson said.

Davidson said it is recommended a person sing the entire alphabet while lathering before they begin to rinse.

Another error people may commit is touching the faucet or door handle with their bare hand after washing.

On June 12, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a news release informing people the H1N1 virus was still circulating in Illinois.

It also urged citizens to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and “limit the spread of the virus.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a weekly update on the activity of the virus.

Its most recent update, which was posted on Friday, June 26, reported that Illinois had the third highest number (2,875 confirmed and probable cases) of the 53 total areas included in the update (50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands).

Spenser Nobles can be reached at 581-7943 or at [email protected].