From: New Student & Carolina Parent Programs, Division of Student Affairs
Greetings Carolina Parents,
Please read the following information received from Campus Health Services. This message has also been sent to students.
H1N1 Influenza is circulating in many communities, including Orange County.
It is important to understand that currently this influenza is acting like a mild seasonal influenza that circulates every year. Most people who get the virus are back to normal activities in three to five days. The major difference between this strain of flu and the normal seasonal flu is that it is occurring out of the normal flu season sequence (typically October through March), and it appears to spread a little quicker than the normal flu, especially among young adults.
We know this virus spreads just like the usual seasonal influenza by coughing and sneezing, and by coming into contact with a contaminated surface or within 6 feet of an infected individual. It is not spread through the air vents and can be killed by normal household cleaners.
We are working closely with the public health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) and the North Carolina Health Department to slow the spread of the illness by asking individuals with influenza like symptoms to isolate themselves for 24 hours after their fever is gone while they are off fever reducing medications.
We are asking affected students as well as roommates and suitemates to take some standard precautions that have been well outlined in previous communications: practice good respiratory etiquette, clean high touch areas with disinfectant wipes, go home if possible if your student is sick, and, if not, perhaps the well roommate can bunk with friends for a short period of time. Please see the FAQs below and on the Campus Health Services website for more detailed information. http://campushealth.unc.edu
Please note that the CDC and the State Health Department do not recommend routinely testing for H1N1 influenza in non-hospitalized patients at this time. If your student has influenza like symptoms but may have another reason to have these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider. These public health authorities also do not recommend treatment with anti-viral medication for healthy adults.
Please have your student call (919-966-2281) or visit Campus Health in the James A. Taylor Health Service building if your student is exposed and has a high risk condition or are having worrisome symptoms.
Member of the University’s Pandemic Response Team communicate with one another on a daily basis and also monitor the spread of the disease daily. The University constantly monitors the Centers for Disease Control and the North Carolina Division of Public Health for any new information that might help mitigate the spread of the virus, and when new information is provided, it is communicated immediately to the campus wide community in a variety of ways, including campus wide emails, web site postings, posters, and other methods. The University has been planning for the possibility of a pandemic since 2006, and an in-depth pandemic flu plan is in place. At this time, we anticipate being able to finish the semester with minimal disruption to classes and personal health.
Sincerely,
Mary Covington MD
Campus Health Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do students keep from getting sick?
A: Although H1N1 flu has proven to be relatively mild and overall has been responsive to anti-viral medications, the CDC recommends that everyone take the following actions to stay healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve 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.
- Get flu shots for both seasonal influenza and H1N1 when the vaccine becomes available.
Q: What do students do if they develop flu-like symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea?
A: Students should avoid school, work, and socializing. The CDC suggests self-isolation - returning home if possible or remaining in your room until 24 hours after your fever resolves without the use of fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Self-isolation also means limiting contact with others and not visiting the dining hall. Students should contact their instructors to notify them if they are not feeling well and receive instructions about how to make up any coursework and receive classroom materials.
Q: If students develop flu-like symptoms, what should they do if they live in on-campus housing or in an off-campus communal living environment like a fraternity or sorority house?
A: If students share a bedroom with another person, their best option is to return to their home or stay at the house of a friend or family member. Students should travel by private car rather than public transportation.
If students are in a private room, they should remain in their rooms as much as possible, cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, or wear surgical masks whenever they are in shared spaces.
If students are ill and unable to return home, we recommend that they speak with they roommate(s). It is important to note that students are contagious about 24 hours before they become ill; however, if a roommate is concerned, they should maintain a physical distance, properly dispose of tissues used, and disinfect high-touch surfaces with sanitizing wipes such as Lysol or Clorox. Roommates also has a variety of options including maintaining a physical distance while in the room, taking proactive hygiene precautions (such as frequent hand cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces), or temporarily moving in with friends during the period of self-isolation. This will most likely be a period of 3-5 days. Students may also wear a surgical mask.
If students are ill and continue to live with their roommate(s) in the same space, students should always cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve and discard the tissue in the trash can, frequently clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and frequently decontaminate things touched in the room or in shared spaces like bathrooms.
In general, ill students should limit their contact with others and, to the extent possible, maintain a distance of 3-6 feet from people with whom they share living space. Shared bathrooms should be avoided or be cleaned frequently. If close contact cannot be avoided, the ill student should wear a surgical mask during the period of self-isolation.
If you have a medical condition that predisposes you to a higher risk of complications for both seasonal influenza and H1N1, consult with Campus Health Services (call 919/966-2281) or your personal health-care provider. These conditions include pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, certain chronic lung, heart, and kidney conditions, as well as any medical condition that leads to a suppressed immune system.
Q: How do students clean their room and other areas?
The virus does not live on environmental surfaces for extended periods and is easily killed by normal household disinfectants like Lysol or Clorox wipes. To best protect a student and their roommate(s), students should establish regular schedules for frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces (for example, bathrooms, doorknobs, and tables).
Q: When should students seek medical attention?
A: The strain of H1N1 circulating in the spring and summer of 2009 generally resulted in a mild to moderate illness. As long as the disease does not increase in severity, it is likely that the majority of individuals who contract the virus will not need to seek medical attention but can self-isolate and use over-the-counter medications for symptom relief. Campus Health Services offers an over-the-counter pharmacy in the James A. Taylor Building for convenient access to medications for symptom relief.
Students with a flu-like illness should promptly seek medical attention if they have a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing. They should contact Campus Health Services (call 919/966-2281) or their personal health-care provider.
Q: What should students do if they think they have a high-risk condition?
A: People who are at high risk for flu complications and become ill with a flu-like illness should speak with their health-care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications often can prevent hospitalizations and deaths.
Groups that are at higher risk of complications from flu if they get sick include: children younger than age 5; people age 65 or older; children and adolescents (younger than age 18) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye’s syndrome after flu virus infection; pregnant women; adults and children who have asthma, other chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; and adults and children with immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV). People age 65 and older, however, appear to be at lower risk of H1N1 infection compared with younger people. But if older adults do get sick from the flu, they are at increased risk of having a severe illness.
Q: How will students get food if they cannot visit the dining hall?
A: In case of illness, students who are not able to make it to the dining halls have a couple of options. As outlined on Alert Carolina (alertcarolina.unc.edu), students diagnosed with or are suspected of having influenza should not come to the dining halls and should avoid contact with others until at least 24 hours after their fever resolves without the use of fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol or Advil). Students should use the resources posted on the Campus Health Services Web site (campushealth.unc.edu) to find information about symptoms and what to do to prevent contracting the virus.
In cases where it is advisable that students not come to the dining halls, students should designate a Flu Buddy. A Flu Buddy is someone who does not show flu-like symptoms and can pick up food for the ill student. If students use a Flu Buddy, the following options are available:
In case of illness, students that are not able to make it to the dining halls have a couple of options. In cases where it is advisable that students refrain from using the dining halls for sustenance, and they have not prepared in advance, it is recommended that the student designate a Flu Buddy. A Flu Buddy would be someone that does not show Flu symptoms who can pick up food for the ill student. Using a Flu Buddy, the following two options are available to students:
- At Top of Lenoir or Rams Head Dining Hall during normal operating hours, students may authorize their Flu Buddy to pick up a meal by simply downloading the Dining Authorization Form (http://dining.unc.edu/pdf/AuthorizationFormSheet1.pdf) ,filling it out, and signing it. The Flu Buddy then presents this to the cashier at Top of Lenoir or Rams Head authorizing the cashier to charge the appropriate student account. For students with a meal plan, this will count as a meal, as long as the student still has meals available. Otherwise the student Flex or Expense will be charged the door rate:
Note: For Flu like symptoms, it is recommended that students eat a bland diet.
- Carolina Dining Service has pre-packed a three (3) day supply of shelf stable prepackaged food items and beverages. Each kit contains:
- Three microwavable Cans of Soup
- Three bottles of Gatorade
- Three bottles of water
- Three (3) chicken or tuna lunch packs
- A package of crackers
- Three pieces of fresh fruit (apples and oranges)
- Six (6) pre-packed individual containers of apple sauce
- Four (4) packs of peanut butter or cheese crackers
The Flu Kit Packages are available at Rams Market during normal operating hours. As in option one, students would simply download the Dining Authorization Form (http://dining.unc.edu/pdf/AuthorizationFormSheet1.pdf), fill it out, and sign it. Once the authorization form is filled out, the Flu Buddy presents this to the cashier at Rams Market authorizing the cashier to charge the appropriate student account. For students with a meal plan, this will count as 6 meals, as long as students still have meals available. Otherwise the student Flex or Expense will be charged $25.00.
Q: What supplies are recommended in the event a student becomes ill?
A: Students are urged to prepare in advance for the possibility of becoming ill. Some of the recommended supplies you will need if you are required to be isolated include:
- Microwavable soup (if you have a microwave);
- Sports drinks;
- Water;
- Non-perishable lunch packs;
- Crackers;
- Fruit and/or applesauce; and
- Peanut butter or other non-perishable items.
Other items you may wish to obtain in advance include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil);
- Thermometer;
- Hand sanitizer;
- Clorox or similar disinfectant wipes;
- Surgical mask; and
- Tissues.
Q: What do students do if they miss class due to sickness?
A: The Division of Student Affairs is working with Academic Affairs to address issues surrounding class absences.
- The Honor Code which guides academic conduct, applies to students who because of illness, may need to make up absences, exams, or assignments.
- Faculty members are asked to be flexible regarding attendance policies for students sick with flu in classes that require attendance as part of the student grade.
- Faculty members are also asked to be flexible about helping students make up missed classes, exams, or assignments. Placing as much course content as possible on a class website, including assignments and lecture outlines, will help students who have to miss class keep up with their assignments.
- Students should get notes from missed classes from class buddies or via the class website.
- Students who are out with the flu are asked to communicate by e-mail with their instructors. Communication to the faculty through Academic Advisors, the Dean of Students, or parents, is of equal value and acceptable.
Q: What is the best source of updated information about H1N1 on campus?
A: The University's Department of Environment, Health and Safety, 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, alertcarolina.unc.edu, and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
The following links will provide the most updated information about H1N1:
** The University has reviewed the CDC Guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education regarding H1N1 Influenza. The following recommendations are based on these guidelines and our available campus resources.
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