Ithaca College

Submitted on behalf of Dr. David E Newman, Director of the Hammond Health Center, and Mark Coldren, AVP for Human Resources.

As expected, we are beginning to see students with flu-like symptoms. The CDC and State Health Department recommend against testing, but these cases almost certainly represent H1N1 or “swine” flu.

It is important to understand that the current public health concern is not the severity of the illness but rapid spread (because few individuals have immunity) and the resulting impact on educational continuity and the workplace. Cases have, in general, been mild, usually even milder than seasonal flu. Individuals who are pregnant or who have respiratory disorders, cardiac disease, diabetes, immune suppression, and certain other conditions are at higher risk for problems, but ordinary healthy people are experiencing relatively mild symptoms.

To keep yourself from getting flu:

• Wash your hands or use waterless hand cleaner frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Clean your surrounding “high-touch” surfaces frequently
• Get the seasonal flu vaccine. Information on the separate H1N1 vaccine will be available when that vaccine is released for distribution later in the fall.
• Try to stay at least 6 feet away from people who are ill.

To keep others from getting the flu if you’re already sick:

• Stay home from work until your temperature is normal for at least 24 hours off all fever-reducing medicine.
• “Self-isolate” at home. Stay away from other people as much as possible in order to limit spread.
• Wear a surgical mask, if you can, when you have to be around others.
• Wash your hands frequently, and practice good cough etiquette

Finally, for those of you who supervise other employees or student workers:

• Allow them to remain away from work until no fever for 24 hours
• Don’t request or require a medical note. Health authorities are strongly recommending that people who are sick with milder flu symptoms not visit their doctor’s office or the emergency room, in order to limit spread (and because no treatment is needed for uncomplicated cases). Asking someone to seek care in order to document their illness or address questions about contagiousness undermines that 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 has activated a web portlet on the myHome at Ithaca website.  https://myhome.ithaca.edu/

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.

If you have questions, please call the Health Center at 274-3177 or the Office of Human Resources at 274-3245. Additional online information can be found at the following: https://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/healthcenter/H1N1Flu/ and www.flu.gov.