Swine flu prompts crowd control at Dalhousie

Not even a hearty handshake is welcome at frosh week.

A Nova Scotia university is stepping up its recommendations to fight the swine flu by encouraging students to keep their distance from one another.

Dalhousie University in Halifax is kicking "social distancing" into high gear this fall.

"Avoid ill people. And if you are feeling ill, avoid crowds. Stay home, get better," said Ray Ilson, Dalhousie's director of environmental health and safety.

The university also advises students to:

• Avoid shaking hands, hugging or kissing.
• Hold meetings over the phone.
• Maintain a one-metre distance when meeting in person.

The swine flu, known as H1N1, is a respiratory illness known to hit young adults particularly hard. The spread of the virus is a big concern for universities, where studying and socializing go hand-in-hand.

"It's all about being with people," said Dalhousie student Zack Eisenstein. "You're with your friends, you're on campus, you just want to hang out."

That's whyNena Watson, another student,believes the university will have a tough time convincing students to keep their distance.

"I don't think people are really going to take those precautions into consideration, especially when it comes to going out and having fun. I don't think the bars are going to have anything to worry about," said Watson.

Posters are going up around campus to remind students how to stay healthy. University officials say these are suggestions, not rules.

Provincial public health officials applaud Dalhousie's efforts, but their key message for the general public remains the same: wash hands, cough into sleeves and stay home for seven days if sick.

"I think that each setting is a little bit different so we have to be careful with the messages we put out," said Maureen Baikie, Nova Scotia's deputy chief medical officer of health. "Also, social distancing in some cases refers to closure of schools, etc., which is not something we're recommending right now."

Ilson said universities across the region will meet to discuss pandemic plans and shape a common approach.