Thursday, August 27, 2009
USI prepares for H1N1 flu
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In June, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 outbreak a pandemic, the first in 41 years. More than 182,000 cases have been reported world wide, and more than 1,800 people have died. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,500 people have been hospitalized with H1N1 flu and nearly 500 have died. Since the H1N1 has persisted through the summer months, a rarity for seasonal flu, an early flu season is likely. Most H1N1 infections have been relatively mild, with symptoms similar to seasonal flu - headache, fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose. Most fatalities have been among young children, pregnant women, and those with health complications that compromise their ability to fight infection. H1N1 is infecting children and young adults at a disproportionately high rate, thus the cause for concern among USI officials. Students and staff in the 18 to 24 age group will be included as priority recipients of H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available later this fall. Several H1N1 flu on-campus vaccination clinics are planned once the vaccine becomes available. Health care workers, children in the Children's Center, University students 18-24 years of age, and health care providers will be the initial targeted groups. "We strongly encourage students and employees to get vaccinated for seasonal flu and for H1N1 flu when that vaccine becomes available," Coudret said. Once the H1N1 vaccine becomes more widely available, the vaccination program may be widened to include additional University community members. Help mitigate infection rates Coudret is working with the academic community on an awareness campaign to educate students and employees on the seriousness of the H1N1 pandemic and ways to mitigate infection rates. "Every person can help reduce the spread of disease by staying away from others when sick," she said. She added that frequent hand washing, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, disposing of used tissues, and other basic personal hygiene practices also can prevent the spread of the infection. Students and employees with flu-like symptoms should not attend class or work and should stay isolated from others. If illness occurs, the faculty will work with students to meet course requirements. Residence hall area coordinators and resident assistants will help students make arrangements to stay isolated and to have food and other needs delivered to them should the infection spread on campus. Symptoms generally last less than a week. Infected people can return to normal activities 24 hours after their fever subsides (less than 100 degrees without medication) without risk of infecting others. Coudret requests individuals (students and employees) who develop the flu go to the Student Health Center web site, www.usi.edu/studenthealth, and report the illness so incidences of flu on campus can be monitored. Individuals may also choose to call their doctor or the Student Health Center to get medical treatment if symptoms are severe. Visit www.usi.edu/emergency for a list of resources with up-to-date information about the H1N1 virus. This web site will have the latest H1N1 information for the campus community. |
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