Mesage from Vice Chancellor Juan N. Franco
Parents:
As preparations for the anticipated H1N1 flu season intensify, I am writing to let you know that UNL is also preparing for the H1N1 flu. No doubt you have heard a great deal about this type of flu -- it is highly contagious and similar in symptoms to seasonal flu.
We have adopted interim attendance policies for faculty and staff, as well as for students. We have also created a checklist to assist each department’s planning activities. The policies and checklist are available on the Web at http://emergency.unl.edu.
We are asking students, faculty and staff who exhibit flu symptoms to stay home until they have been fever-free without the help of fever-reducing medications for 24 hours. If students residing in residence halls or greek housing become ill, we recommend they go home until they are well if they live close enough to do so. We are asking faculty to adjust class attendance policies so that students who do the right thing by staying away from campus with flu symptoms are not penalized. We are also asking that faculty ensure they have a method of communicating with all students in their classes if a cancellation alert is needed. Faculty are being asked to make provisions for students who have been absent with the flu to get caught up once they return to class.
For now, here is what we all can do stay healthy and keep UNL operating as usual:
Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desks, or other equipment, clean it first.
Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available in your area. If you are at higher risk for H1N1 flu complications you should receive the H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/acip.htm
For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).
We will continue to notify you by e-mail and on the emergency.unl.edu Web site of any additional changes to UNL’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus.
Juan N. Franco
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
FAQ for Parents
When will H1N1 vaccine become available to UNL?
H1N1 Vaccine
November 24, the Health Center will hold H1N1 vaccine walk-in clinic for UNL students only.
University Health Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, but not until later in the distribution process, health center director Dr. James Guest said. Initially, the vaccine is being released and distributed in small quantities to providers who treat people who are at highest risk for complications. At this time the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department is responsible for distributing the vaccine allotted to the county by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
"While you hear vaccine is being distributed throughout the state and county, I wanted UNL students to know the Health Center will not receive any of the earliest shipments," said Dr. Guest said. "Because of the very limited amount of vaccine available, the vaccine is being given to providers who treat those individuals who have been assigned the highest priority level by the Centers for Disease Control. As the supply of vaccine increases, the UHC will receive the vaccine and eventually there should be vaccine for all those who desire the vaccine. When we receive the vaccine, we will release information to let UNL students know the details of how to receive the vaccine."
The CDC recommends the following priority for receiving the 2009 H1N1 vaccine:
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months
- Healthcare and emergency services personnel
- Children from 6 months through 18
- Young adults 19-24
- Persons aged 25-64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza
According to the CDC, there is not an expected shortage of the H1N1 vaccine but availability and demand will be unpredictable and available in limited quantities early in the distribution cycle.
The UHC will announce when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available on campus. Dr. Guest also encourages students, faculty and staff to get a seasonal influenza vaccination, which is available at UHC for $20. Check the UHC website for H1N1 and seasonal influenza updates.
If my child becomes ill with H1N1, to whom should I report his/her illness?
Students should let their instructor(s) know they will not be attending class and make arrangements for completing the necessary coursework. Students who live in university housing should contact their residence assistant or their house administrator.
Should I bring my student home if he or she becomes sick?
If possible, residential students with flu-like illness whose families live relatively near campus should go home to self-isolate. They should return home in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. For example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public transportation. They should stay away from other people until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). If flu severity increases, students at higher risk for flu complications including certain chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma, or who are pregnant may consider staying home while flu transmission is high in their institution community. Currently, the CDC is not recommending removing healthy students from their institutions.
Where is the closest pharmacy to campus?
The University Health Center Pharmacy is on city campus - 1500 U Street. It is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The closest 24-hour pharmacy is Walgreens at 17th and South Street. A 24-hour Walgreens is also located at 14th and Superior Street.
Should my child get antiviral medicine if he/she gets sick?
Parents should make sure their son/daughter knows if he or she is at higher risk for flu complications. People at higher risk for flu complications including certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes) who become sick with flu-like illness should call their health care provider as soon as possible to determine if they need antiviral treatment. Early treatment with antiviral medicines often can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. Parents should encourage sick students who are at higher risk for flu complications to seek early treatment. Antiviral medicines are not given to all people during flu season because most people get better on their own, over-use can promote antiviral-resistant viruses, and administration of antiviral medicines can cause adverse reactions in some people.
What fever-reducing medications should I give my child when they are sick?
Fever-reducing medications are medicines that contain acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Motrin). These medicines can be given to people who are sick with flu to help bring their fever down and relieve their pain. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age who have flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
Are students going to be isolated at the Health Center? Are students going to be isolated in a residence hall?
The anticipated number of ill students makes an isolation strategy impossible. Housing is at 100 percent capacity and University Health Center does not have facilities to isolate students.
[Centers for Disease Control. 2009. Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education]
