H1N1 Update to Students, Faculty & Staff
The following message was emailed to all students, faculty and staff on June 27, 2009.
Duke Faculty and Staff:
Earlier this week, Duke announced that both confirmed and suspected cases of influenza have been reported among campers and counselors attending Duke's summer programs. The cases are suspected to be the H1N1 strain of flu, the only strain currently prevalent in this area. The cases have been mild, consistent with seasonal flu. Those campers who were not picked up by their parents have been recuperating on campus, and all expected to return to their programs after a mandatory 7-day isolation period when they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others.
University and Health System physicians have been working together to control the spread of this illness and have taken a number of steps to protect the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff and visitors to the Duke campus. Actions to reduce the spread include:
- Enhanced medical screenings of all campers arriving for new programs. Any person exhibiting flu-like symptoms (A fever of over 100º F and cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body ache, headache, chills, unusual fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting) within seven days of arrival at camp will not be admitted to the Duke summer program, and their fees refunded.
- Immediate treatment for students and counselors. Parents are requested to take their campers home within 24 hours.
- Closing the Brodie Recreation Center on East Campus. Since the cases have been reported on East Campus, our infectious disease experts have determined that limiting access to gathering places like the gym will help limit the potential spread of the illness. Faculty and staff with memberships at the Brodie Recreation Center can use the Wilson Center on West campus during this time.
Any employee who develops flu-like symptoms should immediately notify Employee Occupational Health & Wellness (EOHW) by phone at 684-3136 (option 2) 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.
The H1N1 flu is circulating in the general community, and the most recent report from the CDC estimates that more than one million Americans have been infected. Remember, 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, though the virus itself will only live for no more than 8 hours on any surface. 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.
If any of your family members become ill, please practice good hygiene at home and feel free to call Employee Health or Student Health if you have any questions about symptoms you may develop and whether coming to work or class is advised.
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.
-Bill Purdy, MD, Director, Duke Student Health Center
-George Jackson, MD, Director, Employee Occupational Health and Wellness