TWU News Bulletin
Influenza (H1N1 or Seasonal) Advisory
Visit the Student Health Services website for information on flu shots.
INFLUENZA (H1N1 or Seasonal) SYMPTOMS USUALLY INCLUDE:
- Fever of 100° Fahrenheit or signs of fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance or sweating) AND
- Cough or Sore Throat
INFLUENZA SYMPTOMS MAY ALSO INCLUDE:
- Severe muscle and joint aches
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion and/or runny nose
- Dry cough, or a cough with phlegm
- Headache
- Sensitive eyes
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Diarrhea
With the flu being so prevalent across the country this year, it is not required to be seen by a healthcare provider if you think you have the flu, UNLESS you have a high risk condition or severe symptoms. REMAIN AT HOME, self-isolate, and perform self treatment until you have gone 24 hours without a fever off all fever reducing medications.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS, PLEASE CALL STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES (940-898-3826):
- Symptoms lasting over 5 days without signs of improvement.
- Fever persisting for more than 2 or 3 days not relieved by Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.
- Severe cough or cough producing large amounts of phlegm.
- Severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing.
- Wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- Severe headaches.
IF YOU ARE A STUDENT WITH HIGH RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS CALL STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES (940-898-3826) OR YOUR OWN DOCTOR WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE FLU OR IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE SYMPTOMS.
High Risk Medical Conditions Include:
- Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
- Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV;
- Pregnant women;
- Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu
- Sick individuals should stay away from other people as much as possible. If possible it is wise to go home.
- Sick individuals should cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing with a tissue. If a tissue is not available then cough into the elbow, sleeve or shoulder; not into the hands which may spread germs. Clean hands with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub after coughing and/or sneezing.
- EVERYONE should clean their hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Contact Student Health Service (940-898-3826) to ask if roommates, especially those who have high risk medical conditions—should take antiviral medications.
- Those with high risk conditions should attempt to avoid close contact (less than 6 feet) with individuals who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, ask the individual who is sick to wear a mask, if possible.
Who to Notify If You Think You Have the Flu
SELF ISOLATION IS KEY TO PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE FLU TO OTHERS. Please follow the CDC guidelines to stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone, without the use of fever reducing medication. Health studies majors in clinical rotations and student teachers must wait 7 days from symptom onset or 24 hours after symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. The faculty is being encouraged to be flexible with requirements and to consider the use of distance learning, if appropriate, to accommodate students who are ill with influenza type illnesses this year. The CDC is recommending that students not be required to obtain a doctor’s note to document a student’s absence due to influenza in the 2009-2010. Calling the numbers listed below will help facilitate this. Please note that this recommendation to forgo doctor’s notes and more lenient absence guidelines only pertains to influenza type illnesses for the 2009-2010 academic year.
- If you live in the dorms notify the Director of University Housing or the Senior Assistant Director of University Housing (940-898-3676).
- Students not living in the dorms please call Student Health Services (940-898-3826).
- If you have non-medical questions pertaining to your absences from class notify Student Life (940-898-3615) or your department
Following the CDC recommendations, faculty will not require a doctor’s note to validate a student’s illness. Faculty have been encouraged to be flexible with due dates on assignments and exams. In the event of a significant outbreak, the normal process of notification and documentation through Student Life will not be operating. These measures are advised to help affected students get well and to prevent them from returning to campus prematurely and spreading the flu among other students.
Placement of Sick Students in the Residence Halls
- Sick students should let their RA know that they are ill.
- Students should try to go to their family home during the duration of the illness if possible.
- Students who are unable to go home may be assigned to a designated room identified by the residence hall Area Manager that is separate from common areas in the residence hall.
- If a designated room is not available the student must stay in their assigned room.
- Keep the door to the room closed at all times.
- The student who is ill will have her/his name placed on a list that will be given to the TWU food service so that they can have a friend pick up meals for them. The ill student should not give their ID to another individual.
- Avoid unnecessary contact with others for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. This is to keep from making others sick.
- Health studies majors in clinical rotations and student teachers must wait 7 days from symptom onset or 24 hours after all symptoms are gone, whichever is longer, to avoid infecting others.
- If persons with the flu need to leave their room (for example, for medical care), they should wear a facemask (available at the front desk of the residence hall or at the Student Health Center) if tolerable, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. A tissue is acceptable if a face mask is not available or tolerated.
- Sick students should not have visitors other than roommates. A phone call is safer than a visit.
- Contact Student Health Services (940-898-3826) to ask if roommates, especially those who have high risk medical conditions—should take antiviral medications.
- Sick individuals should cover their coughs with a tissue. If a tissue is not available then cough into the elbow, sleeve or shoulder; not into the hands which may spread germs. Clean hands with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub after coughing and/or sneezing.
- Do not share towels, cups or other items
Students Living Off Campus with Flu Symptoms
- Avoid unnecessary contact with others for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. This is to keep from making others sick.
- Health studies majors in clinical rotations and student teachers must wait 7 days from symptom onset or 24 hours after all symptoms are gone, whichever is longer, to avoid infecting others.
- Sick individuals should cover their coughs with a tissue. If a tissue is not available then cough into the elbow, sleeve or shoulder; not into the hands which may spread germs. Clean hands with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub after coughing and/or sneezing.
- Do not share towels, cups or other items
- Contact Student Health Service (940-898-3826) or your own healthcare physician to ask if you have a high risk medical condition.
With the flu being so prevalent across the country this year, it is not required to be seen by a healthcare provider If you think you have the flu, UNLESS you have a high risk condition or severe symptoms. REMAIN AT HOME, self-isolate, and perform self treatment until you have gone 24 hours without a fever.
If You are the Roommate of a Sick Student
- Avoid being within 6 feet of your sick roommate if possible. Ask your roommate to wear a mask if available.
- Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you have any direct contact with your sick roommate, or handle used tissues or other personal items belonging to your sick roommate.
- Call Student Health Services (940-898-3826) if you think you may need antiviral medication to prevent the flu, especially if you have high risk medical conditions, which include:
Monitor yourself for flu symptoms and contact (by telephone) Student Health Services (940-898-3826) or your own physician if symptoms occur.
Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal
- Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
- Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables and other surfaces in the room) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
- Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
- Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
- Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with hot water and soap.
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