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April 8, 2008

Memorial service scheduled

The residents of Oneida Hall and the brothers of Sigma Tau Chi have cooperated to arrange a memorial service for freshman Craig Schiesser, who passed away March 14. It will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Newman Center on New Street adjacent to the SUNY Oswego campus. For information, call the Dean of Students Office at 312-3214.

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April 3, 2008

President sends thanks

SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley sent letters of thanks to dozens of members of the college community who responded to the medical emergency and public health alert on campus last month. Her words below are followed by a list of the letter's recipients.

I am writing to thank you for the tremendous amount of time and effort you spent during the weekend of March 14-16 helping our campus address the unfortunate loss of one of our students, Craig Schiesser and for your assistance during our subsequent medical emergency.

Words alone cannot express how much I appreciate the care, sensitivity, and compassion that we witnessed, including your actions. I apologize for this general thank you letter, but there are so many individuals that we must acknowledge. In recognition of all of your efforts, I want you to know that we are posting this letter and your names on our web site at: http://www.oswego.edu/healthalert.

Thank you again for your commitment to our community.

Sincerely,

Deborah F. Stanley

President

President Stanley sent the letter to Cindy Adam, Brian Algeo, Julie Harrison Blissert, Mike Bond, Pamela Branshaw-Drumm, Bethany Browne, Rick Buck, Elizabeth Burns, Marney Buss, Bob Casper, Mark Degroff, Mary DePentu, Merry Egan, Seandrea Evans, Kathy Evans, Mike Flaherty, Eric Foertch, Allison German, Maria Grimshaw-Clark, Gwen Henderson, Rich Hughes, Christy Huynh, Donna Jerrett, David Jones, Renee Landers, Mario Magsino, Thaddeaus Mantaro, Robin McAleese, Bruce Meyer, Patricia Miller, Jeff Monette, Grace Mukupa, Rebecca Nadzadi, Tim Nekritz, Michael Paestella, Roxann Paro, Mary Ann Perlman, Mike Pisa, Angel Rosa, John Rossi, Marie Shuman, Craig Traub, Becky Truax, Darlene Tynan, Michelle VanSlyke, Kevin Velzy, Chuck Weeks and Trudy Wilson.

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8:20 a.m. March 31, 2008

Antibiotics effective

No new cases of meningococcal disease have been reported at SUNY Oswego more than two weeks following the death of an Oswego student. The preventative antibiotics administered to around 200 students identified as close contacts of the victim in the days immediately following his death probably contributed to that outcome, college officials said, clarifying media reports that appeared over the weekend.

The type B strain of the meningococcus bacteria, which caused the student's illness, is not covered by either Menomune or Menactra, the current meningococcal vaccines. Vaccination would not have prevented illness from this particular strain.

For more information about the illnesses that meningococcus bacteria can cause, see Walker Health Center's online FAQ.

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March 25, 2008

Bacterial strain confirmed

The meningococcal infection that claimed the life of freshman Craig Schiesser on March 14 was confirmed to have been caused by the type B strain of the meningococcus bacteria, which is not covered by either Menomune or Menactra, the current meningococcal vaccines, said Jean Grant of SUNY Oswego's Walker Health Center.

The same type B strain caused two cases of meningitis at Cornell University earlier this month. Those two students are recovering.

For more information about the illnesses that meningococcus bacteria can cause, see Walker Health Center's online FAQ.

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5:20 p.m., March 17, 2008

Services for Craig Schiesser

Calling hours for Craig Schiesser, the Oswego freshman who died Friday, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday on Long Island and a funeral mass will be held Thursday.

Calling hours will be 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Weigand Funeral Home, 49 Hillside Ave. in Williston Park. The funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Hope Church on Cherry Lane in Carleplace. For more information, call the funeral home at 516.746.4484.

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5 p.m., March 17, 2008

The March 16 homepage notice was updated with numbers and health center hours for the week.

Since Friday, Walker Health Center has screened just over 300 people to evaluate their possible exposure. . . . The health center dispensed the preventative antibiotic to around 190 students who were judged to be close contacts of the victim.

Walk-in hours of 8:30 to 10 a.m. will continue Tuesday and Wednesday, with appointments available through 3:30 p.m. Spring break will begin Thursday. . . .

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2:30 p.m., March 16, 2008

Walker Health Center screens hundreds for exposure

Since Friday, when meningococal disease struck on campus, Walker Health Center has screened 280 people to evaluate their possible exposure.

The health center dispensed the preventative antibiotic to 180 students who were judged to be close contacts of the victim as of 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16.

For a record of all the announcements the college has issued on this issue, and links to news releases from the Oswego County Health Department, go to www.oswego.edu/healthalert.

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2:40 p.m., March 15, 2008

Health authorities: College takes appropriate action

Public health authorities on Saturday confirmed that the Oswego freshman who died Friday succumbed to bacterial meningococcal disease and that the actions the college is taking to prevent further infection are on the mark.

In cooperation with the Oswego County Health Department and Oswego Hospital, SUNY Oswego's Walker Health Center is dispensing preventative medication to those who may have been exposed to the victim's saliva by, for example, sharing a drink or food. About 60 people received this preventative antibiotic Friday at the health center and more on Saturday.

Members of the campus community who have flu-like symptoms that develop to include stiff neck, headache, mental confusion and red or purple rash should seek medical treatment at the health center or hospital emergency room.

Over the weekend, SUNY Oswego is providing counseling and health services to members of the campus community. Walker Health Center will have special hours Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

For background information, see President Deborah F. Stanley's notice to the campus community from 1 p.m. Friday, March 14, and the related public health information cited there. Students, parents and others with questions over the weekend may call 315-312-4887.

More information on the disease is available from the Walker Health Center meningitis FAQ page, the New York State Department of Health Web site -- http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/meningococcal/questions_and_answers.htm -- and from the Oswego County Health Department at 315-349-3547 (or after hours 315-341-0086 and ask for a nursing supervisor).

Links to Oswego County Health Department news releases: http://www.co.oswego.ny.us/info/news/2008/031508.html http://www.co.oswego.ny.us/info/news/2008/031408-1.html

Health Alert Update: Weekend services offered in response to campus loss

SUNY Oswego will provide counseling and health advice to members of the campus community over the weekend, following the death of a student Friday morning.

Walker Health Center will have extended hours over the weekend to see members of the campus community who were in close contact with the student who passed away. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Oswego Hospital is generously helping to staff the campus health center.

The student's death resulted from a suspected case of meningococcal disease, and the Oswego County and New York State Departments of Health recommend that we respond as if the disease were bacterial meningitis. That means dispensing preventative medication to those who may have been exposed to the victim's saliva by, for example, sharing a drink or food.

For background information, see President Deborah F. Stanley's notice to the campus community from 1 p.m. Friday, March 14, and the related public health information cited there.

If you have questions over the weekend, you may call 315-312-4887.

Health Alert from President Stanley

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students fell ill and passed away at 9:05 a.m. this morning. Craig Schiesser was a freshman from Westbury, N.Y., who resided in Oneida Hall. In the past hour we learned that his death resulted from a suspected case of meningococcal disease. Because of the seriousness of this situation, we are sending this announcement.

The Oswego County and New York State Departments of Health recommend that we respond as if the disease were bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is transmitted by contact with saliva. Preventative treatment is available. Our staff is contacting those we know were in very close contact with Craig in the past 10 days to advise them to seek treatment.

Most people who become infected simply carry the organism harmlessly, without illness, and eliminate in from the nose and throat within a short time by developing natural immunity.

Close contact includes drinking from the victim's cup or bottle, sharing cigarettes or smoking materials, sharing lipstick or chapstick, sharing a toothbrush, kissing, sharing food items or being sneezed or coughed on. If you have been in close contact with Craig Schiesser in the past 10 days, you should seek health care at your primary care provider or Walker Health Center on campus from 1 to 5 p.m. today or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to receive a preventative medication.

Meningitis is NOT food borne. Meningitis in NOT spread by casual contact such as simply being with an ill person in class, in a residence hall or at a social gathering. Symptoms are flu-like and include stiff neck, headache, mental confusion and red or purple rash. If you develop such symptoms, please seek immediate medical treatment from your health care provider or emergency room.

More information about meningitis is available at the New York State Department of Health Web site: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/meningococcal/questions_and_answers.htm More information is also available from the Oswego County Health Department at 315-349-3547 (or after hours 315-341-0086 and ask for a nursing supervisor).

This is a very difficult time for our entire campus community. Our thoughts are with Craig's family, friends and loved ones. Our priority now is preventative action for the health and safety of our campus community.

Sincerely,

President Deborah F. Stanley