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Flu Season Preparedness

We ask that everyone follow the basic steps we’ve outlined below, which are based on recent guidelines for colleges from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prevention

Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever. Stay at home if you have any signs of fever (equal to or greater than 100 degrees), cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, blistery rash, heavy nasal congestion or undue fatigue. Signs of fever should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don’t go to class or work.
Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also if you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 novel H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the novel H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 novel H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). The Student Health Center will be offering both the Seasonal Flu Vaccine and Novel H1N1 Flu Vaccine. A campus-wide e-mail will be sent to students, faculty and staff when these vaccines are available at the Student Health Center. For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.

If You Have The Flu

Students, faculty or staff members who live either on or off campus, and who have an influenza-like illness, should self-isolate (i.e., stay away from others) in their residential hall or home for at least 24 hours after being free of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine. Residential students from nearby areas should return home until they recover from the flu. This means students should not attend classes, go to the dining hall, etc. Affected individuals should ask the assistance of a family member, friend or RA to obtain necessities (food, fluids, etc) and check-in on them periodically via phone, text or e-mail.

Affected individuals should seek medical care if they are experiencing severe symptoms or are at high-risk for complications due to underlying health conditions.Students experiencing severe flu-like symptoms should call the Student Health Center at (206) 296-6300. Faculty and staff members should contact their health care providers.

More Information and Updates

For more information and to receive e-mail updates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, visit Flu.gov. You can also track information by following them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/flugov. You can learn more about novel H1N1 in King County from the Public Health Department Web site.