PLU is very aware of the ongoing spread of disease caused by the H1N1 virus, as well as annual concerns about seasonal influenza in the campus community. The university has a plan for addressing emergency medical situations. The plan is driven by the type of emergency, the severity of the emergency and the recommendations of the CDC and the state and county health departments. Student Health Center is monitoring this situation closely and is keeping abreast of the latest news and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the Pierce County Health Department. As new developments occur that need to be relayed to the campus community we will post information on the www.plu.edu/flu Web site. We encourage you to view the information there and then contact us if we have not addressed your concerns: flu@plu.edu.
Several things: 1) Remind him or her of good, basic hygiene: wash hands often or use hand sanitizer often; avoid people who have flu symptoms; do not share beverage containers, eating utensils, dishes, towels or toothbrushes; frequently clean commonly used items such as: remote controls, doorknobs, telephones and MP3 players; limit contact with friends who are sick. Be sure that your student is eating healthy and getting enough sleep, these are basic to a healthy immune system. 2) Remind your student to get flu shots, both seasonal and H1N1 when available. Have your student contact the Student Health Center about seasonal flu shots. 3) Talk to your student about partying and beer pong. The belief that drinking alcohol will kill any germs is wrong, it's a myth. They will pass the virus. Alcohol used as a disinfectant is about 70 percent alcohol, a much higher concentration than anyone can safely consume.
Be sure that supplies are available in the event of illness. Basic health supplies such as a thermometer, boxes of tissues, acetaminophen or ibuprofen are essential. (Some may find cough syrup soothing since many students do get a cough). Encourage your student to have a supply of juice or other beverages to drink when they are sick. Hand sanitizer to carry with them, cleaning wipes for their keyboard and other objects in their room are also very helpful. PLU is distributing self-care flu care packages containing these items for students who come down with the flu they are available in the residence halls and by contacting the Student Health Center by phone or e-mail.
Refer your student to the www.plu.edu/flu Web site and to the e-mail sent to students on 09-11-09. If your student has mild symptoms of the flu, please encourage her or him to self-isolate (do not go to class, dining halls, campus or off-campus events) until her or his temperature is normal for 24 hours (without any fever reducing medications). If your student has a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease or their symptoms are severe (fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, unable to keep liquids down, severe headache or dizziness) recommend that she or he contact a private health care provider. For a referral to local medical care, please have your student contact the Student Health Center at 535-7337.
If your student's roommate has the flu, your student has been exposed and going to a hotel would not eliminate that exposure. The best advice you can give your student (whether his or her roommate is sick or not) is: This flu is more easily spread than typical seasonal flu, but the illness itself is mild. Before your roommate gets sick, be sure that you do not share cups, dishes, eating utensils, bathroom glasses, towels, clothing, etc. Wash your hands frequently and minimize touching your nose, mouth, eyes, ears and face. Maintain a healthy immune system by eating well and getting 8 hours of sleep every night. Manage your stress with exercise/relaxation. Visit the Student Health Center Web page for information about Seasonal Flu vaccination availability. When the H1N1 vaccine is available, be sure your student gets the vaccination. Sick students are encouraged to stay in their room and minimize contact with others. If the sick student’s home is relatively close, the student may decide to go home to recover, but the sick student is not expected to vacate the room. Your healthy student can be encouraged to use another study location, but that is also not necessary. Encourage your student to make sure surfaces such as: doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, phones, anything the roommates touch are cleaned regularly. Sanitizing wipes are very effective on objects such as these.
Emergency warning signs that indicate a need for urgent medical attention include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, if flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, temperature over 102, not controlled by acetaminophen or ibuprofen. In all other situations, if your student goes to the emergency room, she or he may be waiting for a very long time just to be told to go home, rest and practice self-care. There are several emergency rooms in Tacoma, and as in all emergency rooms, care is prioritized based on need. CDC is strongly encouraging everyone with mild symptoms to self-manage their illness because of an anticipated drain on available health care facilities, particularly emergency rooms.
The PLU Student Health Center does not have Tamiflu for the following reasons. The recommendations for providing Tamiflu are very limited and most patients with mild flu really should not take it. The greatest concern, according to the World Health Organization, is the risk that the H1N1 virus becomes resistant to the medication. Also, use of Tamiflu can prevent the person from developing any immunity to the virus. A student will need to consult an off-campus provider to have their symptoms evaluated individually and if appropriate, based on his/her clinical condition, the student may be given a prescription for an antiviral, such as Tamiflu. Tamiflu is also not recommended for routine flu prevention in healthy individuals.
Residential students with flu-like illness whose families live relatively close to the campus are encouraged to go home to self-isolate. They should return home in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. For example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public transportation. If flu severity increases, students at higher risk for flu complications including students, faculty, and staff with certain chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma, or who are pregnant may consider staying home if flu transmission is high. Currently, the CDC is recommending that students who do not have the flu continue to focus on their education and stay on campus.
Health and Human Services Director Kathleen Sibelius on August 24, 2009, said it is plausible that up to 50 percent of the U.S. population could become infected with H1N1 before next spring. Reports of recent occurrences indicate that the H1N1 symptoms are mild to moderate and are lasting 3-5 days. Those at higher risk should see their health care providers. More information is here: www.flu.gov or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu .
In a typical flu season, 5-20 percent of the population contracts the flu.
The H1N1 flu vaccine is not yet available. PLU will announce its plan for distribution, following CDC and Pierce County Health Dept. guidelines, once the vaccine is here. If your student has a chronic health condition that makes him/her especially vulnerable, please have your student contact the Student Health Center to receive priority for the H1N1 vaccine once it is available.The seasonal flu vaccine has been available to students since September 1st. Students can check the Student Health Center Web site for updates on availability. PLU employees received vaccines on September 4th and those who did not do so then may now receive the season flu vaccine at Group Health or other off-campus locations.
The Student Health Center does not provide such medical notes for students. It is expected that PLU that faculty and students communicate regarding necessary absences.
Students who are ill with the flu are requested to inform the Student Health Center via e-mail: flu@plu.edu. The Student Health Center is also available by phone to consult with ill students: 253-535-7337.
For students on meal plans, Dining Services has prepared meals that can be picked up at the Old Main Market, or delivered to the residence hall front desk if the ill student requests delivery. These include soup, saltines, and juice. Off campus students may purchase the meals and will find a stock of supplies at the Old Main Market.
At this time there is no plan to shelter students in one (or several) places on campus. Because this particular virus is highly contagious, but the disease is relatively mild, sheltering in one place (or quarantining) is not a practical option. If students are sick and live within a reasonable driving distance of the campus, they may decide to go home until they feel better. But for the typical student, staying in their room with limited contact with others is the best approach.
The CDC is not recommending school closures at this time. Closing presents other challenges for students who live great distances from campus and for employees who are involved in critical projects. The plan for PLU is to have the various departments prioritize what their work flow would be when a critical number of employees are ill. This is to ensure that “essential” work continues and that student health and safety needs are met.
At this time, the CDC is limiting confirmation testing of H1N1 to hospitalized patients and “clusters” that they identify as needing further testing. This is based on several months of experience with the flu as it spreads throughout the world and the need to use limited resources wisely. Typing becomes more critical if the virus appears to change or become resistant to treatment, or if a seasonal flu virus appears during the same time.
Masks are available in the self-care kits for ill students. They are available in the residence halls and through the Student Health Center. If the student is diagnosed as presumptive for H1N1 we will give them a mask to use when they are self-isolating in their room and a friend brings them food or supplies. However, masks can give people a false sense of security. A sick person wears the mask to reduce making his or her contacts sick. A healthy person needs to practice good prevention (hand washing, not touching my mouth, nose, eyes, etc., avoiding individuals who are sick etc. and not depend on a mask to reduce the risk of getting sick.) Masks do not work if they become wet or torn or are not worn properly (covering one’s nose and mouth and fitting snugly). The Student Health Center strongly discourages wearing masks to walk around the campus or sit in a classroom. They are not effective used this way and are often uncomfortable to wear.