|
Overall, Miami University's student health services (SHS) has seen decreasing numbers of students with flu or flu-like illness in the last two weeks. (There were 286 in the first three weeks and 45 in the last two weeks.) Officials believe the decline may be due to two possible reasons: 1-the initial spread of the disease has slowed because students are using good prevention, or 2-students are self-managing and recuperating well on their own or seeing their own physicians.
Miami's student health services is advising those students who have symptoms and are self-managing to review the self-management guidelines posted on the SHS Web site.
In addition, recent experience emphasizes that it is extra important for people with chronic conditions (including asthma, insulin dependent diabetes, neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, congenital disorders affecting the respiratory system, or heart disease) who develop the flu to seek medical help.
Please see this list of symptoms to help determine if you should seek medical help.
An H1N1 vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and Miami is on the list of distribution sites. The university anticipates being able to administer the vaccine in mid-October. H1N1 vaccine will be administered according to CDC guidelines, and information about when and where H1N1 vaccines will be given will be reported via the Miami e-Report, the SHS Web site and other means.
Campuswide there have been several actions to deal with H1N1 virus:
- Housing, dining and guest services revised its “under the weather” meal policy to make it easier for students to get meals for other students.
- Hand sanitizer stations have been distributed at the entrances to residence and dining halls as well as in computer labs.
- The provost has provided guidance to faculty on dealing with absenteeism in the classroom.
- The student health center will now be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays during flu season.
- The parents office has included information for parents twice in the parent newsletter.
- The student health service has modified some appointment schedules to handle the increase in sick students with possible flu.
- The office of health education has initiated a large H1N1 prevention campaign, in collaboration with the office of residence life.
Miami’s SHS is working with county, state and federal agencies to keep apprised of updates on the H1N1 flu and we report our experiences to the American of College Health Association, which in turn reports to the Centers for Disease Control. A task force has mapped out university responses for a potential health emergency.
Miami is administering seasonal flu vaccine to students at the student health service. Faculty and staff flu shot clinics for seasonal flu vaccine are scheduled for Sept. 29 on the Hamilton campus, Sept. 30 on the Middletown campus and Oct. 5 on the Oxford campus.
Miami University continues to follow the CDC guidelines for dealing with H1N1 events on college campuses and as the information from the CDC changes it will be posted on the student health service Web site. H1N1 virus likely will be present on campus throughout fall and much of second semester and everyone can help reduce the risk of having and spreading the flu. Here are a few things everyone can do to help:
- Practice good hand hygiene
- Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius.
- Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating).
Details are on the Flu Prevention and Care link on the SHS Web site.
It is important for students who have temperatures of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.8 degrees Celsius with a cough and/or sore throat to call the student health services for an appointment (529-3000) to see a clinician. Students who have flu symptoms but also have chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or heart problems also should call for an appointment.
The university is monitoring this illness closely and making pertinent information available as it is received. Students and parents are recommended to monitor the SHS Web site, www.muohio.edu/health. A Frequently Asked Questions document is among information you can click on for details.
Students are working to spread the word among friends, as seen in this local TV story.
If this year’s flu season becomes more severe, Miami may take the following additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus:
- Allow students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for complications to stay home. These students, faculty, and staff should make this decision in consultation with their health care provider.
- Find ways to increase social distances (the space between people) in classrooms such as moving desks farther apart, leaving empty seats between students, holding outdoor classes, and using distance learning methods.
- Extend the time sick students, faculty, or staff stay home or in their residence. During severe flu conditions sick people should stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner. Those who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away. 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.
- Suspend classes. This decision will be made together with local and state public health officials. The length of time classes should be suspended will depend on the goal of suspending classes as well as the severity and extent of illness.
Students who are studying abroad should follow recommendations from the university at which they are studying and should visit www.cdc.gov/travel for further health information while studying abroad. For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
|
