Status of Events on Campus |
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October 20,
2009
Flu continues
to steadily impact the Trinity community. Approximately four to eight students
per day are seeking care for flu or influenza-like illness in Health Services.
All sick students have recovered or are recovering uneventfully. There have
been no known hospitalizations of Trinity students for complications of the
flu.
Over 970 patient
visits (not individual students) were recorded during September in Health
Services, making it the busiest month ever. In response to this volume of
student patients in Health Services, the University has temporarily increased
nurse staffing. Our part-time nurse will be working full-time through flu
season, bringing our staffing to four full-time Registered Nurses.
All flu cases
at this point are presumed to be caused by the H1N1 virus since the traditional
flu season has not yet begun. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has
estimated that 99 percent of flu cases in recent weeks have been caused by
H1N1.
Health Services
is currently out of seasonal flu vaccine. Our suppliers have indicated that
the manufacturer may ship additional vaccine in November, but at this point we
are not optimistic that we will receive a significant number of additional
doses of seasonal flu vaccine. All members of the Trinity community are
strongly encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine, and thus we suggest that
individuals contact local pharmacies regarding availability. Take your health
insurance card since many of the large retail pharmacies may still have the
vaccine and are filing insurance claims.
Health
Services has registered with the Texas Department of State Health Services
which is responsible for the distribution of H1N1 vaccine. While we
expect to receive the vaccine, we do not yet know when or how much we will
get. It is likely that we will receive multiple shipments beginning in very
late October or November. When we have more specific information about the
H1N1 vaccine we will notify students through the Tiger Tales electronic
newsletter and post notices in the residence halls. Students in high risk
groups will be encouraged to come to Health Services to receive the vaccine as
soon as possible. Regular updates will be posted on this Web site.
September 9, 2009
With the beginning of the academic year a number of students
have developed influenza-like illness. Several have tested positive for flu A
at the Health Services, but we do not have a widespread outbreak of flu. Although
we suspect that these students have H1N1 flu, confirmation is not possible under
the current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lab testing protocols.
Because of the fluid nature of the situation, the University
will not be routinely announcing specific numbers of flu cases on campus.
Health Services staff will dedicate their time to evaluating and treating ill
students, vaccinating students, and providing prevention information.
The cases of flu seen in Health Services thus far have been
mild to moderate with students generally recovering in three to four days. The
self limiting illness generally does not require treatment. Dr. Janna Wilder,
University Physician, is ordering Tamiflu as appropriate.
Students with the flu are encouraged to go home to recover
if possible. For students whose homes are within driving distance, parents are
encouraged to pick up their ill students. Ill students for whom travel home is
not feasible are strongly encouraged to self isolate in their residence hall
rooms or apartments until they are free of fever for 24 hours without the aid
of fever reducing medication.
All students are encouraged to adopt a fellow student as a “flu
buddy,” with whom they would mutually look out for one another in self
isolation should they become ill. Flu buddies are not intended to care for
ill students but rather to call and check on the ill student regularly, see if
they need anything, and deliver food, drinks, and medications while they
recover. This will allow students ill with the flu to stay in isolation in
their rooms and minimize the spread of the virus.
Health Services is providing flu kits to ill students to
allow them to care for themselves in self isolation. These kits include
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, throat lozenges, salt packets, over-the-counter cough
medication, and a thermometer. Aramark is prepared to provide
deliverable bundles of food and beverages for ill students. Flu buddies can
pick up these bundles, charging them to the ill student’s meal plan/TigerBucks,
and deliver them to the ill student’s residence hall room.
Health Services has begun administering seasonal flu vaccine
to students. Students may receive the vaccine for $10 in Health Services
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. without an appointment.
August 7, 2009
On June 11,
2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert
level to Phase 6, signaling that a global influenza pandemic was under way.
This reflects the geographic spread of the H1N1 virus, not its severity. For
most people who get the H1N1 flu, the symptoms are mild to moderate, and
recovery is complete.We anticipate
a relatively severe flu season during the 2009-10 academic year with widespread
cases of flu.
During the year the University will not be differentiating
significantly between H1N1 and seasonal flu in its prevention and response
efforts for several reasons. The symptoms and severity of the two are similar
and the treatment for them is non-differential. The prevention measures for
all influenza viruses are the same. And changes in the Centers for Disease
Control’s (CDC) protocols for testing to confirm H1N1 will likely mean that we
will not know for any given case of flu whether it is H1N1 or seasonal flu. Flu is flu.
Trinity University has been monitoring the pandemic
through information from the WHO, the CDC, and other sources. The Crisis
Management Team is meeting as necessary and is developing plans for the
University’s response. As a community health matter every member of the campus
community is encouraged to help prevent the spread of flu viruses.Influenza, also known as the flu, can cause mild to severe illness
and is different than a cold. Symptoms usually come on suddenly and
include fever, usually high, dry cough, headache, tiredness, and may also
include sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and/or stomach symptoms
such as vomiting and diarrhea.The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and to limit contact with others, for 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
For the health of the Trinity community we encourage all faculty, staff, and students to follow this recommendation. To prevent
the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza, take these
everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your
nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw the
tissue in the trash after you use it.
- If a
tissue is not available cough into your arm or elbow.
- Wash your
hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Alcohol-based
hand sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid
touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to
avoid close contact with sick people.
A poster with
prevention recommendations is available from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/pdf/covercough_school8-5x11.pdf (English) and www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/espanol/pdf/covercough_school8-5x11-spanish.pdf (Spanish).Although a
vaccine for H1N1 is under development, there is currently no vaccine available
to protect against H1N1 flu. Seasonal flu vaccine will be available on campus
in the fall semester for students, faculty, and staff.
For more
information about the flu and Trinity’s response, click on FAQs.
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