Swine flu threatens exams

The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico means that ten students from the Norwegian School of Management (BI), who are on an exchange at a university in the Mexican city of Monterrey, are in danger of not being able to take their exams. Teaching at the university has, as at most other educational institutions across the country, been halted as a result of the flu outbreak. Initially, this is set to last until May 6th. However, universities may be forced to stay closed for an extended period of time should the flu outbreak turn out to be a long-term problem. This means that the students’ exams is in danger.

– No panic

Janne Marie Log, director of communications at BI, says that the school is in contact with the students in Mexico on a regular basis.

– We are in a close dialogue with the students in connection with the flu outbreak. Some of the students are worried that they might catch the virus, while others seem more concerned with whether they will be able to take their exams. We also have a good dialogue with the Norwegian Church Abroad, which is also helping the worried students.

She says that one of the students has been to the doctor’s and checked for swine flu, but was found to be in the clear.

The Norwegian Church Abroad’s student priest in the US Anne Løyning, who is also responsible for Mexico, says that the students she has been in touch with have been calm.

– I did not get the impression that there was a mood of panic, but of course it is frightening, she states to Universitas. She says that she is ready to go to Mexico on short notice should any of the Norwegian students need her.

Sick after visit to Mexico

The Foundation for Student Life’s (SiO) Student Health Service has also been in touch with several students who are afraid that they might have caught the virus after recent trips to Mexico.

– We have been in touch with three or four students in connection with swine flu. Of these, one had been in Mexico some time ago and was now experiencing flu-like symptoms, while another was in more Mexico recently but did not have the kind of symptoms that one would associate with the virus. We do not believe that there is a danger of any of them having swine flu, states director and physician-in-chief at Student Health Services, Marit Eskeland.

She says that the health service is paying close attention to developments, but is otherwise remaining calm in the face of the flu outbreak that is now expected to reach Norway as well.

– We are keeping up to date through the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and we have also put out information on our web pages. If we receive any patients that we suspect could have swine flu, then we will refer them to a hospital.

Universitas was unable to reach the students from BI in Mexico before going to the presses on Tuesday night.