October 24, 2009
Having completed seven weeks of classes, Northland Health Center staff have isolated and treated only six students demonstrating influenza like illnesses (ILI). To date, Northland International University has not had any confirmed cases of H1N1. The decrease in the number of cases of ILI can be partially due to our remote setting, but Northland has also been on a strong campaign to educate and promote general health principles so as to limit the transmission of these viruses. Respiratory etiquette/hand washing posters; hand sanitizer stations placed in strategic places across campus; and the faculty, staff, and students cleaning commonly touched surfaces are a few of the ways that can be attributed to the decrease in illness on campus. Everyone on campus has taken the threat of H1N1 very seriously, and most have been very compliant with the adherence of basic health guidelines.
Northland has adopted the current CDC guidelines, which advises that—although the flu is very contagious—it is self-limiting in healthy people and bringing patients into a medical setting (such as a doctor’s office) is not recommended unless the patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of complications from the flu (http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm). Therefore, the Health Center staff continue to carefully assess, isolate, and monitor any student with suspicious symptoms as well as to follow the University’s pandemic plan. Since Northland’s protocol states that any student exhibiting ILI symptoms must be isolated from the rest of the student body, Northland’s new on-line Learning Management System is a great tool to prevent quarantined students from falling behind in their class work. Instructors can simply upload assessments, class notes, handouts, and PowerPoint presentations to the LMS for these students to access. This system will also work in reverse: allowing any quarantined faculty member the ability to teach or communicate with their students from their home via webcam or through materials uploaded.
Unfortunately, Northland’s scheduled seasonal flu clinic has been postponed indefinitely due to the County Public Health Department’s inability to obtain this vaccine. The vaccine manufacturers across the nation have switched their emphasis from the production of the seasonal flu vaccine to the production of the H1N1 vaccine offered either through injection http://www.immunize.org/vis/h1n1_inactiveflu.pdf) or through a nasal spray (http://www.immunize.org/vis/h1n1_inactiveflu.pdf ). The staff at Northland Health Center will continue to pursue the possibility of having H1N1 and seasonal flu clinics on campus once the vaccine becomes available.
The targeted groups of Northland students, faculty, and staff in priority order to receive the H1N1 vaccine are:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
- Health care and emergency medical personnel
- Students with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, respiratory conditions, heart disease, etc.
- Students < 24 years of age
- All faculty and staff with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system
As more vaccine becomes available these groups should also be vaccinated:
- Healthy 25 through 64 year olds
- Adult 65 years and older
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September 1, 2009
As you may be aware, Wisconsin has experienced several thousand confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza throughout the state. Northland International University remains in close communication with the Marinette Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and will take guidance from them to develop a plan to address the health and safety of our community in the event of a significant influenza outbreak.
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus are similar to those of seasonal flu. Symptoms include the sudden onset of a fever over 100° plus at least a cough or sore throat and possibly a runny nose, fatigue, body aches, headache, and chills.
If you develop these symptoms you should:
- Call the Health Center (ext. 5300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily) or visit a local physician’s office for testing.
- Return to your permanent residence or parent’s home (without using public transportation), keeping away from others as much as possible, until free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Avoid travel except to get medical care or for other necessities.
- Avoid contact with others to reduce the spread of illness.
- Take non-aspirin fever-reducers (Tylenol, acetaminophen).
- Seek medical attention if you have an underlying medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease; difficulty breathing; or if symptoms last for more than five days with no improvement.
To reduce the risk of any illness, including H1N1 influenza:
- Wash your hands often and vigorously with warm soapy water for 20-30 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often, especially after using a tissue.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your arm or sleeve; avoid using your hand.
- Do not share eating or drinking utensils with others.
- Avoid close contact with others who are ill.
- Get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids to keep from being dehydrated.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (i.e., door knobs, light switches, telephones, faucets, desks, keyboards, etc.).
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- Wear a face mask when around anyone with symptoms.
To help safeguard the health and safety of our entire campus, Northland International University will:
- Educate faculty, staff, and students via health sessions and future web updates.
- Work with the local public health department to offer seasonal influenza vaccinations beginning in September/October. While there is currently no vaccine against H1N1, if students, faculty, and staff are vaccinated against the normal strains of influenza and still become ill, the response to suspected H1N1 can be more targeted and timely.
- Post signs with information regarding hand-washing, covering coughs, and use of hand sanitizer across campus.
Additional information: