Students Advised of Plans for H1N1
Dear Duke Students,
As predicted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the healthcare community, H1N1 flu case reports are on the rise on college campuses across the country, and Duke is no exception. We have already seen a number of cases over the past few weeks, and will likely see many more as the season progresses. Fortunately, the cases reported thus far have been relatively mild.
We are now implementing plans developed this summer to minimize the risk of infection, care for those who get sick, and maintain safe campus operations. Students can access Duke H1N1 response resources and information in a number of ways, summarized below. For the latest detailed information, visit www.duke.edu/flu .
H1N1 symptoms are similar to those for regular seasonal flu. They are distinguished by a fever of 100º F or higher and may also include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, unusual fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting. To assess fever, thermometers are available from Resident Assistants (RA) or Student Health.
If you are suffering any of these symptoms, take the following steps:
1. Call Student Health: Students experiencing any flu-like symptoms should contact Student Health at 681-WELL. A nurse will discuss your symptoms with you over the phone. After business hours, this number will direct students to a nurse line that is staffed 24-7. You may also visit Student Health offices on East or West Campus during normal business hours or http://healthydevil.studentaffairs.duke.edu/appointments/index.html> if you wish. However, we suggest a phone call as a more comfortable and less contagious option.
Based on that conversation, Student Health will recommend a course of action for you.
2. Stay in your room. If you are diagnosed with H1N1 or the seasonal flu, you should not leave your room or go to class until you are fever free for 24 hours. This is for your health, as well as the health of others in your community.If you have any health concerns while staying in your room, please contact Student Health. They will be able to help you, or direct you to a resource that can meet your needs.
3. Eat. Students asked to stay in their rooms will need assistance getting food. The following options are available to all students:
- Friends or roommates can be enlisted to pick up food for sick friends.
- Online ordering for meal delivery to on-campus residences from a limited menu will be available beginning Tuesday, September 8. A follow-up to this email with the online link information will be sent at that time. The link will also be available at www.duke.edu/flu. Note that there are deadlines for ordering each meal.
- Students can also use food points for delivery from off-campus food vendors.
4. Inform your instructors. You will not be penalized for missing class during your illness, provided you follow these steps:
- Fill out the following Short-Term Illness form, regardless of your school, prior to or on the date of, an absence from a class with graded work: <http://www.aas.duke.edu/cgi-bin/trinity/t-reqs/illness/form.pl> . This form will be sent to your instructors to advise them of your absence.
- Graduate and professional students should use the Short-Term Illness Notification Form <https://flu.oit.duke.edu/notification_form.php> to notify their instructors.
- In most cases, the form is good for five consecutive days. If your instructor requires it to be filled out every day you are ill, that should be stated in the syllabus and communicated to you in class.
- If you are still ill after five days, you need to contact your academic dean and request that a Long-Term Illness notification be sent to all of your instructors.
For those with High-Risk Conditions Duke has reserved an off-campus apartment building to house students with high-risk conditions in order to isolate them from potential infection. If you have a high-risk condition and wish to be relocated to that facility, please contact Student Health.
Those with higher risk for seasonal influenza complications include persons with the following conditions:
- Chronic pulmonary (including significant asthma that requires daily medication), 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; Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
For Roommates of Sick Students
Neither the CDC nor Student Health are recommending that roommates of ill students need to take any additional precautions other than to practice good hygiene and hand washing. For those who are roommates of a sick student, Duke is following the CDC guidelines, which advise:
You should limit your contact with your sick roommate and try to maintain a distance of 6 feet from him or her. If close contact cannot be avoided, your sick roommate can wear a surgical mask, if tolerable. Masks are available from your RA. You should frequently clean commonly-touched surfaces. Well students who are living with students affected by influenza should be diligent about washing hands and minimizing direct exposure as much as possible.
Any questions regarding healthy students with sick roommates should be directed to deanofstudents@studentaffairs.duke.edu.
Flu Prevention Tips
Flu prevention is more important than ever this year. A few simple health tips may help you avoid the flu:
- Get proper rest, nutrition and exercise.
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper arm,
- not your hand.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
We should all be aware that the arrival of flu on campus will create disruption and inconvenience for many. Our goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of all members of the Duke community, and to care for those who become ill.
We will be providing email updates to this email list as needed. Again, please stay tuned to www.duke.edu/flu for the latest information.
Sincerely,
William Purdy, MD, FAAP
Executive Director
Student Health