Embedded Files
Catherine Cotrupi
Virginia Tech
EDHE 6064: Higher Education in the U.S.
An image of the Infirmary at VAMC from Virginia Tech Libraries' Special Collections.
([Infirmary at VAMC], ca. 1903–1904)
([Infirmary at VAMC], ca. 1903–1904)
Context
Context
Colleges across the country have long dealt with epidemics and pandemics disrupting campus life
and even leading to the deaths of members of the student body.
Colleges across the country have long dealt with epidemics and pandemics disrupting campus life
and even leading to the deaths of members of the student body.
During the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s higher education dealt with waves of Scarlet Fever and in 1957 dealt with the impacts of H2N2 or “the Asiatic Flu.”
During the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s higher education dealt with waves of Scarlet Fever and in 1957 dealt with the impacts of H2N2 or “the Asiatic Flu.”
In late-2019, an outbreak of a previously unencountered virus caused an epidemic in Mainland China and in early-2020, COVID-19 became a global pandemic.
Presently, the virus has infected over 9,714,600 people in the United States and killed over 235,475 topping 200,000 deaths on September 22 (CDC COVID Data Tracker, 2020). The first weeks of November have seen the highest numbers of daily cases yet, with November 6th having 132, 830 new reported cases (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
In late-2019, an outbreak of a previously unencountered virus caused an epidemic in Mainland China and in early-2020, COVID-19 became a global pandemic.
Presently, the virus has infected over 9,714,600 people in the United States and killed over 235,475 topping 200,000 deaths on September 22 (CDC COVID Data Tracker, 2020). The first weeks of November have seen the highest numbers of daily cases yet, with November 6th having 132, 830 new reported cases (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
Quarantine, or the intentional separation of individuals who may potentially have been exposed to illness; and isolation, or the separation of individuals confirmed to be ill from the general population, both have an impact on the spread of infectious diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Both, however, also affect the mental health of those separated. Research conducted on individuals in quarantine for the 2003 SARS outbreak found that 28.9% of respondents suffered from PTSD and 31.2% suffered from depression as a result of their experiences (Hawryluck et al., 2004).
Research conducted during the H1N1 outbreak of 2009 studied the mental health impacts of quarantine on undergraduate students under these guidelines. While quarantine has demonstrated positive effects on disease control and therefore physical health, the study by Wang (2011) wanted to better understand the impacts of this practice on mental health. In his study, Wang studied the college student population at Qiangjiang College of Hangzhou Normal University specifically and found no significant difference in the mental health status of those under quarantine (n = 176) and those not (n=243). What the researcher does point out, however, is that previous research on the mental health effects of people in quarantine during the SARS outbreak is likely due to the significantly more stressful and deathly nature of SARS versus the H1N1 flu.
The impacts of the deleterious global health crisis that is COVID-19 are still unfolding. As noted, the U.S. alone has had nearly 10,000,000 cases and has ended the lives of over 200,000 in this country. The mental health impacts are presumably far greater and will not be fully recognized for quite some time.
The following asynchronous learning activity presents information on
historical and contemporary epidemics and pandemics
that have caused quarantines on U.S. campuses.
The following asynchronous learning activity presents information on
historical and contemporary epidemics and pandemics
that have caused quarantines on U.S. campuses.
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