By: Rachel Vieau

What is the difference between these two, and how can Crown be ready for both

This past April, the world first heard of the "swine flu." It has since been called H1N1 and labeled a pandemic (World Health Organization, June 2009). The H1N1 flu is a new influenza virus causing mild to severe illness in people. It is spreading from person-to-person on a world-wide scale, probably much like the regular seasonal influena (flu) virus does.

• Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based cleaners are good for this.

The label "swine flu" comes from the original laboratory testing that showed that many of the genes in this virus were very similar to other similar viruses that occur in the pigs of North America. Further study made it evident that it is actually quite different from what circulates in these pigs.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Cough into sleeve or shoulder, not your hands, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Human infections of the H1N1 virus have been ongoing in the U.S., yet most people who become ill have recovered without requiring medical treatment. The virus is contagious, much like the regular flu, and can be passed from infected person's to healthy person's through coughing, sneezing, and sometimes through touching the surface of something that has the virus on it.

• Stay home if you have the flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees fahrenheit) or signs of a fever. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (anything that has ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

The symptoms for H1N1 include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may be infected with H1N1 and have respiratory sypmtoms without having a fever.

• Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu.

Each year in the United States, 36,000 people die from flu-related complications, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Make sure to take precautionary measures to keep yourself healthy, and from unknowingly spreading the flu or H1N1 viruses.

The above information is compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm.

The beginning of the academic year is a good time to review the guidelines for staying healthy during the upcoming flu season. Because the flu can spread easily from person to person, we need your help to do everything possible to keep our campus operating as usual.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast that seasonal flu and H1N1 flu will be circulating at the same time this flu season. However, unlike the seasonal flu, the H1N1 virus appears to be impacting a younger population, including college-aged students. We are working closely with the Carver County Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. Crown College also has an Emergency Response Team that meets regularly to monitor and respond to any new information. We will keep you informed as updates become available to us.

For now, here are 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 sleeve 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. Symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering, or a temperature equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. In addition, flu symptoms can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
• 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. 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 (most likely in October). 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 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.
• 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 of updates via our web site, of any additional changes to our institution's strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Pevention (CDC) recommendations: 

Action steps for Institutions of Higher Education

Action Steps for Students, Faculty, and Staff