Duke Responding to Influenza Cases on Campus
As of the evening of June 23, 10 confirmed cases and more than a dozen suspected cases of influenza have been reported among students or seasonal camp employees participating in summer programs on the Duke campus. The cases are suspected to be the H1N1 strain of flu, the only strain currently prevalent in this area. All of the patients are doing fine, with cases that are generally mild and comparable to seasonal influenza.
Duke health officials have been responding, in close coordination with local health officials and federal guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Faculty and staff are reminded to follow preventive measures to help stay healthy.
What to do if you have flu-like symptoms
Individuals with H1N1 infections have symptoms similar to those with seasonal flu. These include fever with cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. Less common symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
Anyone who develops these symptoms should immediately notify Employee Occupational Health & Wellness (EOHW) by phone at 684-3136 or 684-8115 after hours, in addition to seeking care from his or her primary care physician. Students should contact the Student Health Center at (919) 681-9355.
If a health care provider confirms influenza or symptoms consistent with influenza, employees are advised not come to work until seven days after your symptoms began or until the employee has been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. In general, individuals with flu-like symptoms should remain isolated from others, for at least seven days from the onset of symptoms.
Precautions for Contracting and Treating H1N1
H1N1 is spread the same way seasonal flu is spread. Most transmission occurs when people who are ill cough or sneeze on an uninfected person. It can also occur when people touch a surface that has been contaminated with the influenza virus and then touch their mouth or nose before washing their hands.
There currently are no vaccines available to prevent acquiring the virus, but the CDC recommends the following measures to minimize risk:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If a tissue is not available, cough into your shirt sleeve.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Wash your hands before eating.
- Do not share your food or drink with others.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
Additional information about Duke’s response to the H1N1 flu is available on a special website the university has created at http://www.duke.edu/flu2009.