Submitted on behalf of David E. Newman, MD, Director Student Health Service
To Ithaca College students:
We want to update you on the H1N1 flu situation on campus, what you can do to avoid illness or prevent spread if you are ill, and what the College is doing to protect your health.
The main public health concern across the nation at this point is widespread absenteeism from school and work, not the seriousness of the illness. Infections with H1N1 have generally been milder than most seasonal flu so far. However, it is important for you to be aware of measures you can take to help avoid getting sick:
• Keep your distance from people who are already ill; 6 feet or more whenever possible.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or a waterless hand cleaner such as Purell.
• Keep surfaces that you frequently touch as clean as possible.
• Get enough sleep.
• Get a flu shot. The College is offering free seasonal flu vaccine to all students starting next week. Times and locations will be posted on Intercom and at www.ithaca.edu/sacl/healthcenter/H1N1Flu/. The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available. We will notify you when that vaccine, and guidelines for its use, are available.
The symptoms of H1N1 are often relatively mild, and include fever greater than 100 degrees (37.8C) plus some combination of headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. If you become ill with these symptoms we recommend the following:
• Try to stay away from others, termed “self-isolation.” If your hometown is close enough, we advise you to go home until your temperature is below 100 degrees for at least 24 hours while off any fever-reducing medicine. Otherwise, try to stay in your room as much as possible. It is important that you remain out of classes while ill in order to limit spread. Notify your professors by e-mail or phone, and they will tell you what you need to do in order to complete any missed work.
• For those on a meal plan, Dining Services can provide boxed take-out meals. We recommend that you ask your roommate or a friend to assist you. You can elect to give your ID card to your roommate/friend who can then go to any of our dining halls and contact the manager to get a take-out meal for you.
• If you have roommates, try to stay at least 6 feet away from them or, when that’s not possible, wear a surgical mask. Masks will be available shortly at the Health Center and through your RA free of charge.
• Call the Hammond Health Center at 274-3177 if you have questions about your symptoms. If you are more seriously ill, such as with a high fever, dehydration, other symptoms unconnected with flu, fever with skin rash, etc., we will want to see you right away, but otherwise it’s better for you to just stay out of circulation until your temperature has been normal for 24 hours.
• H1N1 flu in young, otherwise healthy individuals is not being treated with antiviral medication. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) will alleviate some of the symptoms; cough medicine, and rest are helpful.
• If you are pregnant or have asthma, other chronic lung diseases, heart disease, immune suppression, or diabetes, you may be at risk of more severe disease. It might be important for you to be treated with Tamiflu. Contact the Health Center or your private physician for advice.
H1N1 Flu Info on myHome at Ithaca
In cooperation with Information Technology Services and at the recommendation of the Core Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Health Center is activating a web portlet on the myHome at Ithaca website. This “H1N1 Flu Info” portlet contains up-to-date information on the College’s response to the flu, links to additional information sources, and what to do if you think you might have the flu.
Students will also see a button that will allow you to self-report if you have flu-like symptoms. By clicking the button, the Health Center will be notified and will be able to follow up. By using this feature, you will also be helping the College track the prevalence of flu on campus.
We will be sending a letter to parents to let them know about our recommendation that ill students return to their home for the duration of their illness whenever possible. We will also continue to communicate with the campus community as needed via Intercom, e-mail notices, and the myHome portlet. We understand that you may be feeling anxiety due to the extensive media coverage of H1N1 flu, but you can rest assured that the College is fully prepared to respond to this problem as necessary and appropriate.
Sincerely,
David Newman, M.D.
Director of Health Services
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090908154027316