The Flu ToolKit H1N1 Flu Updates Fall 2009 H1N1 Flu Update Spring 2009 Frequently Asked Questions about H1N1 Flu Preventing the Spread of Influenza (Flu)
Most persons with the flu will be able to remain in their assigned room while they are sick. They can
usually care for themselves. If you should have any concerns or questions in this regard please contact the Torrey Health and Counseling Service (229-5392) or after hours contact Security (229-5555).
Know the symptoms of Influenza, which may include:
Sudden onset of illness Fever higher than 100 degree Fahrenheit
Chill
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Stuffy nose
Muscle aches
Feeling of weakness
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and/or Exhaustion
Prevent the Spread of Illness in the Residence Halls:
Flu can spread easily from person to person therefore, anyone living in or visiting a room where someone has influenza can become infected. For this reason, it is important to take steps to prevent the spread of influenza to others.
What everyone in the contact with an ill person can do:
• Wash hands with soap and water, or if soap and water is not available, use an alcohol based cleanser/hand sanitizer (like Purell® or a store-brand) after each contact with person with the flu or with objects in the area where the person is located. This includes bathrooms.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth without first washing
your hands for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice).
• Wash hands before and after using the bathroom.
• Wash dirty dishes either in a dishwasher or by hand with warm
water and soap. It’s not necessary to separate eating utensils used by a person with influenza.
• Laundry can be washed in a standard washing machine with warm or cold water and detergent.
It is not necessary to separate soiled linen and laundry used by a person with influenza.
• Do not hold or carry the laundry close to your body or face, in order to avoid contamination.
Wash hands with soap and water after handling soiled laundry.
• Place tissues used by the ill person in a bag and throw it away with other trash. Consider placing a bag
H1N1 influenza is similar to seasonal flu and most people will get over the flu within a week. Most people are unlikely to need medical care, but if you should have any concerns or experience any of the warning signs listed below, please seek further medical care.
Tips on how to take care of yourself and to keep others healthy:
• Know the signs and symptoms of flu. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
•Stay home or in your residence hall room if you are sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too.
• Dietary Services will deliver food to your room so you will not need to leave your room for meals
• Your room mate will be offered another living space while you are ill to protect them from further exposure to the virus
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Sick people should stay at home or in their residence, except to go to the health care provider’s office.
• Stay in your room and avoid contact with others. If someone is caring for you, or you need to leave
your room to go to the bathroom, wear a mask.
• Drink plenty of clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, and electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated.
• Stop smoking.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) for headaches, muscles aches or fever.
• For a sore throat, gargle every 2 hours with salt water or use throat lozenges, ice chips or sore throat spray.
• For head congestion use salt water nasal spray Most people should be able to recover at home, but watch for emergency warning signs that mean you should seek immediate medical care. Seek medical care if:
• Fever is over 101o and lasts for 5 or more days
• Severe headache
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath,
• Abdominal Pain
• Stiff neck (unable to flex neck to chest)
• Ear or facial pain
• Sore throat so severe that swallowing is impaired or creating an inability to open mouth fully
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Diarrhea that is bloody
• Flu-like symptoms improved but then return with fever and worse cough
•
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I've heard this is a pandemic. What does that mean? A pandemic occurs when a disease spreads rapidly between people all over the world. Pandemic flu would be an influenza (flu) that has spread around the world.
How does it happen? The swift spread of a pandemic flu happens because people are not immune to the new flu virus, and an effective vaccine would take months to develop.
In 1918, 1957, and 1968 the flu season in the U.S. was especially severe, and resulted in a much higher number of illnesses and deaths. Pandemic refers to the distribution of the illness, not its severity.
Are pandemic flu, avian flu, swine flu and H1N1 flu the same thing?
Pandemic flu is not a type of flu but is the way the flu spreads. The avian flu (H5N1or bird flu)in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe may be spread to people who directly handle infected birds or bird waste, but currently can’t be spread easily from person to person. However, this virus could change allowing people to pass it to each other. Swine flu is properly titled H1N1 to label the viral strains.
Don’t people get the flu every year?
The flu we get each year is called “seasonal” flu. Although the virus changes slightly from year to year, it is always a version of the flu from recent years so most of us have build-up some immunity or tolerance to it.
Do you expect a widespread outbreak?
The World Health Organization declared H1N1 as a pandemic event in June 2009. We must assume that H1N1 is among us already, and our work will be to prevent infection and treat illness if or when it occurs. Because college students live in close proximity, they are among the populations who may be more susceptible. Note that New York State is no longer testing for the H1N1 virus, so we will never know exactly which strain of the virus exists if an employee or student becomes ill with flu symptoms.
Will the vaccine be available to students, faculty and staff?
We don't know. Burt when it is available. St. Lawrence will be a center for distribution for all students, employees and employee families.
What is the incubation period after an exposure?
The incubation period is up to 7 days after exposure.
How long is someone contagious?
Someone is contagious
24 hours after temperature returns to normal.
What happens if I get it?
The symptoms of flu are:
Sudden onset of illness Fever higher than 100.4 degree Fahrenheit
Chills Cough
Headache Sore throat
Stuffy nose Muscle aches
Feeling of weakness Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and/or exhaustion
If students have these symptoms, contact the Torrey Health Center, 229-5392, to arrange a personal appointment for diagnosis. Call Security and Safety (229-5555 after hours and on weekends)
Students presenting with a fever to Torrey Health Center will be masked and isolated in the conference room.
If a student reports with symptoms that are likely flu and not likely another illness, we hope that the student and his or her family will arrange for the student to go home (provided the student lives within driving distance to campus and the family can provide transportation) until the fever abates, plus one day.
If you're an employee, please contact your health care provider, or visit the AfterHours clinic at the E.J. Noble Medical Center adjacent to campus, or the emergency room of your local hospital. Employees who become ill with the flu should stay home until their fever is gone for 24 hours, without the aid of a fever-reducing medicine.
What if I get sick and can't go home?
If you cannot go home and can recover on campus, you'll be returned to your room, and your healthy roommate will be relocated to an isolation space. You'll receive a "Stay-in-your-Room" toolkit with supplies for 5-7 days, and dining services will provide food delivery. Hospitalization is an option for those students who are too ill to remain on campus.
If you're on campus and recovering, stay in your room while you have a fever, and for 24 hour after your fever goes away and you have not been taking a fever-reducer as supplied by the Health Center.
Will you close the University if there is an outbreak?
Our goal will be to remain open, to prevent illness as much as possible, to monitor levels of illness, to treat ill students effectively if they remain on campus, and to consider closing only if the numbers become so large that safe and effective campus operations are compromised.
How does someone know if they have H1N1?
If you have flu symptoms, contact the Torrey Health Center, 229-5392, or Security and Safety (229-5555 after hours and on weekends) to arrange a personal appointment for diagnosis. New York State is no longer testing for the specific virus strain.
How can it be prevented?
Washing your hands is the single best preventive measure for everyone
Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth without first washing your hands for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice).
Wash hands before and after using the bathroom.
Wash dirty dishes either in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap. It’s not necessary to separate eating utensils used by a person with influenza.
Laundry can be washed in a standard washing machine with warm or cold water and detergent. It is not necessary to separate soiled linen and laundry used by a person with influenza.
Do not hold or carry the laundry close to your body or face, in order to avoid contamination. Wash hands with soap and water after handling soiled laundry.
Place tissues used by the ill person in a bag and throw it away with other trash. Consider placing a bag at the bedside for this purpose.
Clean counters, surfaces and other areas in the home regularly using everyday cleaning products.
If you get the vaccine, do you have to get a regular flu shot as well?
Yes, the vaccines for H1N1 and the seasonal flu are different.
Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?
We have been assured by federal, state and county health officials that St. lawrence will receive enough vaccines for all students, employees and employee families.
How much will shots cost?
H1N1 vaccines will be free.
When will you start giving the shots?
As soon as the vaccine is available, we're ready to schedule clinics and will announce them immediately.
Are you restricting activities or attendance at large gatherings?
Not at this time, but we ask common sense, caution, and consideration to contain the spread of any contagious illness.
What if I have to miss a lot of classes?
Dean Lehr is communicating with the faculty to ask each person to develop a plan that makes sense for each particular course. The variety of course types on campus is a richness we have, so it negates the possibility of a single response. In addition, the Torrey Health Center staff will provide each student who is diagnosed with the flu a special form that you can show faculty, after you recover, that lets faculty know the nature of your absence. We are asking faculty to be as flexible as they can be as they work to achieve their educational goals.
What should I do if I don't feel well?
If you're a student, please contact the Torrey Health and Counseling Service (229-5392) or after hours contact Security (229-5555). If you're an employee, please contact your health care provider, or visit the AfterHours clinic at the E.J. Noble Medical Center adjacent to campus, or the emergency room of your local hospital. Employees who become ill with the flu should stay home until their fever is gone for 24 hours, without the aid of a fever-reducing medicine.
St. Lawrence has assigned a five-member core team to coordinate planning processes and materials for the University. The team members are:
Lisa Cania, associate vice president for University relations Ted Coviello, director of contracts, compliance and risk management Patricia Ellis, director of health and counseling services Patrick Gagnon, director of security and safety James Mattice, co-CIO of Information Technology
