Information for Parents and Families
Dear Student, Parent or Guardian:
During this academic year, more people than usual in our communities are getting sick with the flu (influenza). In addition to the regular “seasonal” influenza that comes around every fall, we are seeing cases of the novel H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”) that first appeared last spring. Novel H1N1 flu never completely went away over the summer, so the flu season has started early this year.
Right now, novel H1N1 still seems to be acting like seasonal influenza in terms of how sick it makes people and how it is spread. Most people who have had novel H1N1 flu in Minnesota have gotten better without complications. However, like any flu virus, novel H1N1 can be a serious and even fatal disease. Young people have been especially affected with approximately 70% of hospitalizations last spring occurring in people under the age of 25 years. People at high risk for complications from influenza (including seasonal and novel H1N1 influenza) are those with underlying medical conditions (such as heart, lung or kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, metabolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, or a suppressed immune system), pregnant women, children under 5 years of age (especially those under age 2) or people over age 65.
Influenza spreads when a person with the flu coughs or sneezes. Students can help us prevent the spread of influenza at St. Cloud State University by taking the following important steps:
- If possible, students should be transported home if they have symptoms of the flu. That means a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, with cough and/or a sore throat. Students should watch for these symptoms each morning before they go to class and throughout the day. They should not participate in classes or other activities if they develop flu symptoms. Other symptoms that may occur with flu include runny nose, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea (in addition to fever and cough or sore throat). A student with these symptoms is encouraged not to use public transportation to get home.
- Sick students should self isolate or return home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without use of fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Motrin. Usually that means staying away from others for 5 to 7 days. During this time, the student should avoid contact with others except to get medical care. This includes staying away from class, meetings, sporting events, public transportation, and other social gatherings or activities.
Some additional important points:
- The student still needs to stay at home or self-isolate until their fever has been gone for 24 hours even if the student is on antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or has had a flu test that is negative. Flu tests are not always accurate.
- When the student returns to regular activities after an influenza-like illness, the student will still be able to spread the illness, although less easily than when the student had fever and flu symptoms. To avoid spreading the virus, it is very important that the student cleans their hands frequently, and cover coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue while at school or in the public.
- The student should have available tissues, hand sanitizer, thermometer, throat lozenges, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen (not aspirin) for aches and fever.
- If a student is at high risk for complications from influenza, additional precautions should be taken. This includes people with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, metabolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, and females who are pregnant. If the student is not sure whether they are at higher risk, please check with a medical provider.
If the student is at high risk:
- Contact the medical provider immediately if the student develops flu symptoms. If the student needs antiviral drugs, they should be started within two days of symptoms for the best response.
- The student’s medical provider also should be contacted to see whether antiviral drugs are needed if the student has had close contact with others who have flu symptoms.
- Remember that other students returning to school after a flu-like illness may still be able to spread the virus. Talk to the medical provider now to develop a plan for flu that meets the student’s individual health needs.
- Learn how to care for yourself or another person with flu symptoms at home and when to seek medical attention. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/basics/care/index.html
- Students should contact their professors to notify them of their illness and to determine whether class material can be accessed online via distance learning, or through other methods. The student should contact the professor as soon as possible to inform them of their illness and make any possible alternative arrangements to make up class work or assignments. Although many students may feel pressure to attend class even when ill, they should avoid the classroom until their fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. The campus food service provider (Sodexo) has meal delivery available to residential students with meal plans so they can avoid going to the cafeteria or student union.
- If the student’s roommate becomes ill and the roommate is not able to travel home or relocate, the student should commute from home if possible. If this is not possible, the student should move to a temporary location if one is available or the student should wear a mask and maintain maximum possible distances when in the residence hall room at the same time as the ill roommate. A student at high risk of influenza complications should contact their health care provider to determine if antiviral medication is needed because of their exposure to the ill roommate.
Additional information from the Center for Disease Control about how to protect oneself from influenza is available at: http://www.flu.gov/professional/school/higheredtechreport.html.
- Clean hands often, with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Use soap and water if hands are soiled. This is very important for everyone – including students who are well and students who are coming back to school after being sick.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue when one is available, or cough or sneeze into an elbow or arm. Hands should not be used to cover a cough or sneeze. Touching mouth, eyes, nose, and face should be avoided. Immediately dispose tissues after one use.
- Stay healthy by practicing good health habits including getting enough sleep, exercise, nutrition and hydration and avoiding contact with sick people if possible.
- Avoid sharing personal items which includes items like drinks, food or eating utensils, and personal care items.
- Get vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends vaccinating all students against regular, seasonal influenza. That step is especially critical for persons at high risk of influenza-related complications.
A separate vaccination will be needed for novel H1N1 influenza. Student Health Services will continue to advocate for more
vaccine for our campus community and update students when conditions change or more vaccine is expected.
If novel H1N1 influenza begins causing more severe disease, some of the recommendations in this letter may change based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health. For example, students with flu symptoms may need to stay home longer – up to seven days, regardless of when their fever goes away.
For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website at www.health.state.mn.us or the federal flu website at www.flu.gov. For more information about influenza in our community and what St. Cloud State University is doing, visit www.stcloudstate.edu/emergency/flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health websites provide extensive information regarding the control of and response to H1N1 flu:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/basics/care/index.html
Thank you for your assistance in helping to reduce the spread of influenza at our university. We look forward to a productive academic year.
Sincerely,
Brent Nielsen, M.D.
Medical Director
SCSU Student Health Services
Further questions can be emailed to SCSU Student Health Services at flu@stcloudstate.edu
