Schools

Report: Some Tech Students Unaware of 2012 Pneumonia Outbreak

The university alerted students, faculty and staff about the cases, and preventive measures.

When a major pneumonia outbreak happened last fall at Georgia Tech, the university spread the word to students, faculty and staff in several forms, including e-mail and social media. But according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control, a number of students surveyed said they didn't know about it.

From the article in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report:

Despite university communication efforts, approximately half of students surveyed were unaware of the outbreak when surveyed in December. DPH recommendations included implementing university policies that facilitate students staying home and seeking medical care when ill and refining health messages and communication methods to improve awareness of disease outbreaks among students.

The article "Mycoplasma pneumoniae Outbreak at a University — Georgia, 2012" - which was also covered in a Georgia Health News story ---  says there were 83 cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae diagnosed in the period of September 1–December 4, 2012, "making this outbreak the largest reported at a U.S. university in 35 years."

Georgia Tech did its part by spreading the word and preventive measures via e-mail, social media, and posters, the article states. 

Under the report's editorial notes, it reads: To be effective during a M. pneumoniae outbreak at a university, health messages need to reach students and educate them regarding their risk for infection and behaviors that can prevent infection. More research is needed to determine the most effective ways to communicate these messages to university students.  

Read more details in the CDC's report

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