H1N1 Flu: Update #4 (May 7,2009)
May. 7, 2009 by Lisa Currie
The situation regarding the influenza virus formerly known as swine flu and now referred to as H1N1 Flu has stabilized. Although we remain vigilant and are monitoring local and national activity, the overall level of alarm has lessened. Especially reassuring have been the experiences of our colleagues at Amherst and other institutions where, despite confirmed cases on campus, disease activity has been limited and illness relatively mild.
Please continue to take everyday actions to stay healthy. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
We recommend that you periodically monitor the CDC website and the Emergency Management website. Future updates will be posted on the Emergency Management website and on the Health Center website unless circumstances dictate more direct communication.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues its response to the novel H1N1 Flu outbreak. As of yesterday, 642 human infections with novel H1N1 flu have been confirmed in 41 states in the United States. As testing continues in many other states, more cases and more states are expected to be added. There have been two confirmed deaths in the US associated with the H1N1 virus to date.
For the most up to date and authoritative treatment of this issue, see the CDC website.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health website is found here.
CDC’s goals continue to be to reduce transmission and illness severity and provide information to assist health care providers, public health officials and the public. To this end, CDC continues to develop and update interim guidance documents.
Local Activity
Four confirmed H1N1 cases have been reported in Connecticut. Earlier in the outbreak, tests were sent for several Wesleyan students. All of these have come back negative and the students have fully recovered. Because the case definition is currently so broad, several students have been advised to manage their illness as if they have H1N1, but we do not have reason for special concern about disease activity on campus.
Our colleagues at Amherst have managed multiple cases and all have done well with symptoms equal to or more mild than usual seasonal flu. See https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/health/service/flu for more information.
Current Case Definition
The working definition for Influenza-Like Illness is fever > 101 F (37.8 C) PLUS cough or sore throat.
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. This document (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm) summarizes symptoms and recommended preventive behaviors for the general public. Recommendations include: contact avoidance, treatment options for the seriously ill, and how to recognize symptoms.
If you are a Wesleyan University student and think you meet these criteria, please call the Davison Health Center 860.685.2470 to discuss your symptoms with a health care provider. It is preferable that you call rather than walk in so as not to risk exposing others in the waiting room.
Faculty and staff should contact their primary care providers.
What can I do to prevent getting H1N1 (Swine flu)?
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. If you get sick, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Respiratory precautions at Davison Health Center (DHC)
In keeping with our established protocols and consistent with interim guidelines from the Middletown Department of Health, Wesleyan’s Davison Health Center has activated our Respiratory Hygiene Plan.
Any student entering the health center will stop at a station with hand sanitizer and tissues. Students with cough are asked to take a supply of tissues and cough into tissues and dispose of them. Clinical care providers will wear masks when evaluating students with cough and fever.
What if I have questions?
Questions may be directed to Davis Smith, Medical Director of Wesleyan University’s Davison Health Center (pdsmith@wesleyan.edu). He will respond as quickly as circumstances allow.
