H1N1 Flu Virus Information
CDC Says Vaccine Safe; Encourages Students To Get Vaccinated -- 12/10/2009
Read the full report on H1N1 vaccine safety here.
Letter from Dean Gourley -- 9/16/2009
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
We continue to see members of our community with flu-like symptoms. While the numbers remain low, we still want to remind everyone to take steps to prevent the spread of flu at the College.
If a residential student is diagnosed with flu-like symptoms, we ask that he or she goes home for the duration, if at all possible. If this is not possible, we will ask them to self-isolate and take precautions.
If a commuter student or faculty or staff member becomes ill, we ask that he or she stays home and not come to campus.
Again, there are things you can do to help prevent the spread of the flu:
- 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 38 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 (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This 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. The College Health Center is now offering the seasonal flu vaccine. THIS IS NOT THE H1N1 VACCINE.
- If you are at higher risk for flu complications from H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available in October. The FDA just approved the H1N1 vaccine this week and we anticipate receiving the shipment by mid-October. People at higher risk for H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
If we see that additional steps are needed to prevent the spread of the virus on campus, we will notify you. In addition, we will post this notice and any other important information at http://www.ehc.edu/studentlife/h1n1_updates/ as it becomes available. If you have questions or are experiencing symptoms, please call the College Health Center at extension 6219.
For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).
We will notify you by e-mail if our flu strategies change. Students, we ask that you forward this message to your parents to help keep them informed as well.
Stay healthy!
Pamela L. Gourley
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Letter From President Reichard -- 9/1/2009
Dear students, faculty, staff and parents,
As you may know, flu can be spread easily from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu at Emory & Henry College, but, we need your help to accomplish this.
Yesterday, we determined that one of our students is ill with a virus that is highly probable to be the H1N1 virus. The student has returned home as a self isolation measure. As you know the H1N1 flu virus is present in our region and we are working closely with the Washington County Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.
Here are a few things you can do to help:
- 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 38 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 (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don't go to class or work. The College will ask residential students who live within a reasonable driving distance to return home for the duration of their illness to prevent exposing others.
- Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. The College Health Center anticipates arrival of the seasonal flu vaccine next week. The College community will be notified so these vaccines, which are different than the H1N1 vaccine, are available. Also if you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available later this fall. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
If this year's flu season becomes more severe, we will take additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus. For more information about flu in our community and what our institution is doing, visit the link we will be establishing in a few days at www.ehc.edu or call the College Health Center at extension 6219. For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).
We will notify you by e-mail of any additional changes to our institution's strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus. Please forward this message to your parents to help keep them informed as well.
Sincerely,
Rosalind Reichard, Ph.D.
President
Policy For E&H Community Members With Flu Symptoms
If a student tests positive or shows the symptoms of the flu, the College will ask the student to self-isolate.
Residential students will be asked to go home, if possible, in order for their families to care for them. If it is not possible due to distance, the Dean of Students Office will work with the student to make arrangements so that the student is isolated from others to reduce the spread of illness.
Commuter students will be asked to stay at home and recuperate, as well. Faculty and staff will be advised to go home and not return to the workplace for the duration of the illness.
Those who become ill will be advised to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
The Dean of Students Office will notify faculty regarding students who will be out for health reasons. Faculty are asked to work with the student on any missed assignments. Any faculty or staff members who are ill will need to notify direct supervisors.
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