Email to Students Regarding Flu Preparations for Fall Semester
Dear Students,
With the fall semester approaching, we are writing to bring you up to date on Duke’s extensive planning to deal with possible cases of both seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus. University officials, including experts on infectious disease, have been meeting regularly throughout the summer to coordinate plans for minimizing the risk of infection, caring for those who get sick and maintaining safe campus operations
As you may have heard, Duke reported a number of cases of influenza in our summer youth programs, as did many camps in North Carolina and around the country. The vast majority of those cases at Duke and elsewhere were mild to moderate, comparable to seasonal influenza. Nonetheless, H1N1 infection is now widespread, with a vaccine unlikely to be available for months.
Symptoms of both novel H1N1 and seasonal flu typically include fever (100◦ F or higher) along with one or several of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches, headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting. Students diagnosed with, or suspected to have influenza should not go to class, should remain in their rooms and avoid contact with others until at least 24 hours after their fever resolves, a guideline that has been established by the Center for Disease Control.
Students with certain underlying health issues may be at greater risk (again, as defined by the CDC). Student Health Center staff will be reaching out to those who can be identified through health records but to be certain, we ask that students who believe that they have such risk factors identify themselves to Student Health providers upon arrival on campus. We also encourage these students to consult with their personal physicians for additional guidance.
Students, you can help protect yourselves and others by following the health guidelines outlined on the university’s flu website, www.duke.edu/flu. When you come to campus, you will find hand sanitizers and tissues at multiple locations, posters and other health reminders, as well as some new campus procedures aimed at reducing the risk of infection.
Duke will alert you when you can receive the vaccine for seasonal flu and it will also offer the vaccine for H1N1 flu when one becomes available.
We know you may have questions about what Duke is planning. You’ll find more information on the flu website and will continue hearing from Duke about the flu in the months ahead. As always, please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
We look forward to a great – and healthy – new semester together.
Larry Moneta Ed.D
Vice President for Student Affairs
William Purdy, M.D.
Executive Director of Student Health