H1N1 Flu

 

H1N1 flu, also referred to as swine flu or novel flu, is different from seasonal flu in 2 ways:

·         It seems unrestricted by season (appearing all year)

·         Most people have no immunity to it, hence the term novel.  

 

Viral influenza is a respiratory disease, spread by droplet (via coughing) and is preventable through good hygiene practices and immunization. If people with seasonal or H1N1 flu hygienically covered their coughs and effectively sanitized their hands, flu would not spread. 

 

H1N1 flu has been milder than regular seasonal flu. There have been serious cases and death, but most of those cases have occurred in people with predisposing illness or in pregnant women. 

 

All students, faculty and staff with influenza-like illness (1) fever over 100 ° degrees, (2) sore throat or cough or both, should go home and stay there until fever subsides for at least 24-hours without medication.  (Only those students, with no local address, should remain on campus when ill.  They also will be subject to quarantine. Health Services will direct these students and their roommates about proper self-care and measures to prevent spread during illness.)  Students, who are ill, should contact their professors immediately (by e-mail or phone) concerning their need to self-quarantine. 

 

                PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE

1)            Wash or sanitize your hands often

2)            Cover your cough (ideally coughing into your shoulder)

3)            Know the symptoms of flu

 

 

 

4)            If you have flu-like symptoms, go home and stay there until you are free of  

fever (without medication) for 24 hours.

5)            If your condition worsens: breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, pain in

chest or abdomen, extreme dizziness, confusion or worsening of symptoms,   contact your primary care provider.

 

COMMON SENSE MEASURES:

·         If you have mild flu, DO NOT go to classes, to practice or to your doctor.  Instead, call (or e-mail) the people that you need to inform/consult.  This will slow the spread of disease.

    

·                     Monitor your own health.  Fever is a key symptom of the flu.  In addition to  

feeling warm, chills, flushing of the face, unusual sweating may be indicators of fever.  If you are unsure whether or not you have a fever, go to Health Services.

·                     Don’t touch your face or eyes

·                     Do not share drinks, utensils, clothing

·                     Get immunized against seasonal flu (now) and H1N1 flu (in late fall, when it

becomes available)

 

AVAILABILITY OF VACCINE

Local pharmacies are currently immunizing against seasonal flu for $25-30 per shot.  To find a flu shot, go to http://flucliniclocator.org/ and type in your zip code.   All students, especially those with predisposing illnesses, are encouraged to receive immunization against seasonal flu from the first available source.  Health Services will receive some seasonal flu vaccine, but the amount and date of delivery are unclear.  The H1N1 vaccine will not be available until later this fall.   

 

We have seen numerous students with H1N1 flu and they have been sent home.  The majority of students are mildly ill for 2-3 days, while a few, have reported fever, sore throat, cough, nausea and body ache and required 4-7 days of convalescence.  Every year, Bridgewater State College has many cases of flu.  Prevention is the best medicine. 

 

REMEMBER: Sanitize your hands; cover your cough, if you have flu like symptoms, self-quarantine.  If symptoms worsen, call your primary care practitioner.

 

 

For more information visit:

 

Center for Disease Control sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm

 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health sources:

http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/flu/swine_faqs_seasonal_h1n1_for_general_public.pdf  

Last Modified: September 14, 2009