FAQ on U-m's response to h1n1 flu

How can I tell if I have the flu?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines flu-like illness this way:

A fever of 100.4 F or greater, plus a cough or sore throat.
Possibly other symptoms, including a runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea.

How will I know if I have H1N1 flu?

You may not know, for sure, but if you have the symptoms listed above, you can be fairly confident you have H1N1 influenza. State health officials have determined that it’s no longer necessary to test specifically for this novel strain of Influenza A, as 98 percent of individuals in Michigan with flu-like symptoms at this time of year have H1N1.

What are some things I can do to keep from getting the flu?

Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing, "The Victors") using soap and water or hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your nose and eyes directly.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve - not your hand.
Use tissues and dispose of them properly.

Will the U-M offer H1N1 vaccinations to students?

Yes. We plan to offer the vaccination, at no charge, to all students through age 24. In addition, students over age 25 with CDC-designated risk factors also will be offered the vaccine. We believe the vaccine should be ready for distribution in late October or early November. Plans for the H1N1 vaccination clinics are still being developed.

What about faculty and staff?

Plans announced by the CDC call for making the H1N1 vaccine free to everyone through the network of state and county health departments. What role the U-M might play in helping to distribute the vaccine to faculty and staff or the general public is still to be determined.

Should students also get a seasonal flu vaccination?

Yes. While college students are not among those at high risk for the seasonal flu, the university always encourages students to get this vaccine. It will be offered on campus this fall and will entail a customary fee. Details will be announced soon by the University Health Service.

What about faculty and staff?

In the past, some units on campus have set up times when employees have the opportunity to get a seasonal flu vaccine if they choose. It’s too soon to say exactly what those plans are for this year. Check with your supervisor or your unit HR rep for information specific to your unit. There is an ample supply of the seasonal flu vaccine and will be offered in many places earlier this year. You may want to check with your primary care physician about getting a flu shot.

Is there anything special I should send to campus with my student in case he/she gets sick with the flu?

It might be good to have students come to campus fall with a supply of tissues and hand sanitizer. We will be encouraging frequent hand washing and the use of tissues to cover coughs. These basic practices really can help to slow the spread of illnesses like the flu.

What should a student do who gets sick with the flu just when it’s time to come to campus this fall?

Please stay home to recover. There’s no point in starting the academic year isolated in a residence hall room. It’s best to remain at home until the student is symptom free for 24 hours. Please contact the Dean of Students Office (Phone: 734-764-7420; E-mail: deanofstudents@umich.edu) with any concerns or to advise us that a student will arrive late. Housing assignments for these students will not be put in jeopardy.

What will happen if a student on campus gets sick with the flu?

At the U-M we will be following the recommendations of the CDC for college students:

Isolation until 24 hours after the ill student is free of fever (100 degrees F) without the use of fever-lowering medications. In most cases this will mean three-five days. This new recommendation is a reduction from the previous seven-day isolation period. Isolation helps to prevent the spread of the flu and rest may help students recover more easily.
Students who are able, may wish to go home or to the home of a friend in the area for the isolation period. For those who are not, we will ask students to self-isolate themselves in their residence hall rooms or apartments until they are free of fever. It’s important to note that the U-M will have very limited housing spaces that might be used to quarantine high-risk roommates of ill students.
Treatment of ill individuals with the prescription drug Tamiflu is recommended by the CDC only if there is an underlying health condition (severe asthma, diabetes, HIV disease, immune deficiency) or the individual is considered high risk (pregnant, over age 65). University Health Service physicians will not prescribe Tamiflu for students who do not meet CDC guidelines.

If a student is isolated in a residence hall room, how will the student be able to eat?

The university will make arrangements to deliver food to their rooms. Residence hall staff will be checking on students regularly and transportation to the University Health Service will be available for students who need to see a physician. Students who live off campus will be supported by the staff at University Health Service but will need to make their own arrangements for food. If they are unable to do so, they should contact the Dean of Students Office.

What should students do if they get sick with the flu and have to miss classes?

Should students become ill during the academic year and need to miss classes for several days, we ask that the students contact their instructors directly to seek accommodations and notify their academic advisers. If this is not possible, they may contact the Dean of Students Office for assistance.

Will classes or other activities be canceled if enough students get sick?

Because we expect the severity of the H1N1 strain of flu to be similar to that of seasonal flu, we also expect the university will continue with classes and other scheduled activities. Of course, university experts in influenza will continue to collaborate with local, state and federal health officials and be prepared to follow any new recommendations.

Will the University Health Service provide students with a medical excuse from classes for those who are sick with the flu?

No. Most individuals who get sick will not need to see a physician. Instead, we’ve asked faculty members to be understanding of students who are sick with the flu and miss class. Many instructors also are making more of their class materials available online through the use of C-Tools, so students who have to miss a class can keep up with assignments.

Should I be concerned about using keyboards in common computing areas?

Keyboards certainly are one way the flu can be transmitted from one person to another. Use a hand sanitizer before and after using a share keyboard and keep your hands away from your nose and mouth.

Should I be concerned about handling term papers from students who may have the flu?

No. There are two courses of action you could take. First is to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the papers or using plastic gloves while handling the papers. The second approach would be to let the papers sit for 24 hours before handling them. The good thing about the H1N1 virus is that it dies very quickly on surfaces like term papers, counters or door handles. Even if one of your students was ill with H1N1 flu and sneezed on his term paper before it was submitted, that virus would not survive more than 24 hours. The seasonal flu virus has an even shorter lifespan.

What about masks?

Outside of health care settings, the U-M recommends the use of surgical masks only for those who are sick with the flu, if they must go out in the public (to see a physician). Masks help to stop the spread of the flu virus by containing any sneezes or droplets that might spread the virus.

Will hand sanitizer be more widely available on campus?

Yes. You can expect to see hand sanitizer dispensers in the common areas of campus buildings and facilities this fall. It’s also not a bad idea for students to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in their backpacks as they move from class to class throughout the day.

Is there some way I can ask a specific question not covered here?

Yes. We have established an e-mail address - fluquestions@umich.edu - for any questions related to the flu. You can expect a response within 24 hours.

Where can I look for additional information?

For the U-M response and links to other information:
(http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/flu-swine.html)

Information on the flu from U.S. health officials:
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Recommendations for colleges and universities:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/guidelines_colleges.htm

Information for visitors to U-M medical facilities:
www.med.umich.edu/flu