As the H1N1 influenza A continues circulating widely worldwide, health officials expect cases to keep increasing in the United States and throughout the northern hemisphere in the next few months since influenza transmission typically spreads more rapidly during the fall and winter. Those patterns mean that University students studying abroad could be exposed to someone with H1N1 flu and contract the illness.
On Aug. 5, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines about the best ways to prevent spreading the H1N1 flu. Based on that information, the University has developed new recommendations for when University students, faculty or staff should stay home from school or campus activities. These recommendations supersede the guidance provided by the University on June 30, 2009.
Guidelines for Students Abroad
It is not possible to anticipate the response of foreign governments, health authorities and educational institutions to the spread of H1N1 flu within their respective spheres of authority and responsibility. Students need therefore to understand that, by virtue of residence in a foreign country as participants in a study abroad program, they may become subject to whatever decisions are taken by the foreign governments, health authorities and educational institutions in response to the spread of H1N1 flu while they are studying abroad. That said, the following advice is offered, acknowledging that it might be superseded in specific circumstances in individual countries:
- University students who are well but are living in accommodation where someone has H1N1 flu: Can go to school as usual. They should monitor their health every day, and if they become ill, they should stay home.
- Students who are ill with fever and respiratory symptoms: Should contact the local program director/coordinator and designated health care service for the study abroad program in which s/he is enrolled for advice and instruction and to schedule an appointment. If students with these symptoms leave their accommodation to seek medical care or other necessities, they should cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. A surgical loose-fitting mask can be helpful, but a tissue or other covering is appropriate, too.
Students can use http://www.flu.gov and the resources posted on the UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Health Services Web site, http://campushealth.unc.edu/, to find information about symptoms and what to do to prevent contracting the virus. General recommendations include staying home from work, school and any community gatherings for 24 hours after their fever resolves. Their fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine (antipyretic).
CDC Tips to Fight H1N1 Flu
Although H1N1 flu has proven to be relatively mild and responsive to anti-viral drugs, the CDC recommends that everyone take the following actions to stay healthy:
- 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 hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
The University's Department of Environment, Health and Safety, http://www.ehs.unc.edu/healthy/h1n1.shtml, is leading Carolina's response to the H1N1 flu in collaboration with the UNC Health Care System, UNC General Administration, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Orange County Department of Public Health.
Information about H1N1 is updated as conditions warrant on Alert Carolina, http://alertcarolina.unc.edu, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, and on the Study Abroad Office Web site: http://studyabroad.unc.edu.
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