A message from Harry McDermott, MD, MPH, Executive Director for Campus
In support of making your UA experience a healthy one this year, we need
your assistance in addressing the pandemic flu that has arrived on the UA
campus already this fall semester. We have been seeing cases of flu since
the first week of the semester and are expecting the number of cases to
rise in the coming weeks.
A pandemic flu vaccine will likely be available later in the fall (October or November), but for at least the beginning if not most of the pandemic
flu outbreak we will be relying on people who become ill with the flu to
stay home to help reduce the spread of this virus.
As part of this effort, I would ask that UA students who develop symptoms
of the flu (fever over 100.0, cough, body aches, sore throat) stay on home
or room based isolation until they have no fever (without the use of fever
reducing medication) for 24 hours. This type of action will reduce the
chances that students will spread the flu to others on campus or where they
live. The Centers for Disease Control recommends this length of social
distancing for those ill with the flu to reduce the spread of this virus.
For those students living on campus or in a Greek chapter house who come
down with the flu, plans for caring for those students and their roommates
have been developed in collaboration with Residence Life staff and
fraternity and sorority advisors and House Directors.
Academic departments will also be asked to accommodate students who need to
be out of classes due to influenza and to help them stay connected and
up-to-date on their course work through phone, Internet and email
communications. If students become ill with the flu, it will be their
responsibility to initiate and maintain communications with their
instructors.
The UA has been working on a pandemic response plan for three years now,
with each department creating contingency plans for responding to a
pandemic outbreak in the campus and Tucson communities. If we all work
together, we will have a better chance of reducing the impact of the H1N1
flu pandemic on those learning, living and working in the UA community.
Thank you very much for your attention to this information and your
willingness to consider and act upon these infection control
recommendations.
Important flu information
The best ways to avoid coming down with the flu include:
* Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
* Keeping your immune system healthy: get plenty of rest, engage in physical activity, manage your stress,
drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods.
Flu symptoms include fever (over 100 degrees), cough,
body aches, sore throat, and some times runny nose or vomiting and
diarrhea – see www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
* If you live in a residence hall, notify the Community Resident Assistant or front office, or if you live in a sorority or fraternity, notify the House Director or Greek Health Advocate and isolate yourself in your room.
* Maintain a distance of six feet from your roommate(s) if possible.
* Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve and wear a surgical mask when your roommate is in the room.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
* Call the Campus Health Service (please call before coming in) if you have:
- A fever of 102.5 or higher or you run a lower fever
(fever is being defined as a body temperature of 100.0 or greater) for more than three days,
- A severe cough, shortness of breath and/or chest pain, nausea and vomiting,
- A severe headache or you feel you need to be seen at the clinic.
The phone number for the Campus Health Triage Nurse is 621-6493 or the
After Hours On Call Provider at 570-7898.
Other resources:
• UA Campus Health Service www.health.arizona.edu
(Go to the Hot Topics section or the flu link near the top of the home
page.)
• Pima County Health Department
www.pimahealth.org
• Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
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