Mesage from Vice Chancellor Juan N. Franco

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Absences

Can my instructor ask a student to leave class if they appear to be sick?

Students may be sent home if they display the following symptoms: Fever (greater than 38 C or 100.4 F) combined with one or more of the following:

1. Cough
2. Sore throat
3. Runny or stuffy nose
4. Body aches
5. Headache
6. Chills
7. Fatigue
8. Diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Those who display symptoms and refuse to leave after being asked to do so may be subject to disciplinary action.

If I become ill with H1N1, to whom should I report my illness?

You should let your instructor(s) know you 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.

Vaccination

When will H1N1 vaccine become available to UNL?

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.

Prevention

What steps can I do to stay healthy and keep from spreading the flu?

Here are four important ways people can stay healthy and keep from getting sick with flu or spreading the flu:

• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Practice respiratory etiquette. The main way flu spreads is from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not your hands.
• Stay home if you are sick. Stay home or in your place of residence for at least 24 hours after you 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).
• Talk to your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated. Get vaccinated for seasonal flu. People who are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 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.flu.gov

Everyone should take personal responsibility to help slow the spread of the flu virus.

Who is at higher risk for complications from flu?

Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people) and anyone can have serious problems from the flu. Talk with your health care provider to determine if you are at higher risk for flu complications, especially if you have been in close contact with others who are sick with flu or flu-like illness.

Some groups are at higher risk for complications from the flu. These include children younger than 5, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) and people 65 and older.

What actions should pregnant women take to protect themselves from the flu?

Pregnant women should follow the same guidance as the general public related to staying home when sick, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and routine cleaning.

Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from flu and like all people at higher risk, should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible if they develop flu-like symptoms. Early treatment with antiviral flu medicines is recommended for pregnant women who have the flu; these medicines are most effective when started within the first 48 hours of feeling sick.

Pregnant women are part of the first priority group to receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. Seasonal flu vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women and can be given at any time during pregnancy.

What is self-isolation?

Self-isolation is when sick people stay home and away from other people until they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). During the period of self-isolation, sick people should limit contact with others and try to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people. If close contact cannot be avoided, sick people should wear a surgical mask when they are around other people, if they can tolerate it.

What should students living on campus do if they get the flu?

CDC recommends that people with flu-like illness remain at home and 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).

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu?

Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

How do I recognize a fever or signs of a fever?

A fever is a temperature that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius when taken with a thermometer. Look for these possible signs of fever: if you feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating or shivering.

How do I know if someone has 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu?

It will be very hard to tell if someone who is sick has 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.

Public health officials and medical authorities will not be recommending laboratory tests. Anyone who has the symptoms of flu-like illness should stay home and not go to work.

Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

What fever-reducing medications can I take when 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.

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.

UNL Student Attendance Policy

In order to aid in protecting the health and safety of students, UNL has adopted the following attendance procedures specific to students who exhibit flu symptoms this season. Due to the highly contagious nature of H1N1 flu and its similarity in symptoms to seasonal flu, anyone displaying flu-like symptoms will be treated the same under these procedures. Please note, this is interim guidance and subject to change as additional information becomes available.

1. Students exhibiting the following symptoms MUST NOT come to class or other public events.
   Fever (greater than 38 C or 100.4 F) combined with one or more of the following:
   1. Cough
   2. Sore throat
   3. Runny or stuffy nose
   4. Body aches
   5. Headache
   6. Chills
   7. Fatigue
   8. Diarrhea and/or vomiting.
2. Students should notify their instructor that they are ill and unable to come to class.
3. Students living in University Housing should notify their resident advisor that they are ill. University Housing residents will follow University Housing's influenza guidelines.
4. Students must stay home or in their residence and minimize human contact 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.
5. Students may be sent home if they display the above symptoms. Those who display symptoms and refuse to leave after being asked to do so may be subject to disciplinary action.
6. For faculty requiring attendance in classes, please modify your policy so that students who are ill with influenza are not penalized for doing the right thing by staying home and not attending class. The university does not want ill students in class spreading the influenza.
7. Faculty should ensure they have a method of communicating with the entire class if class or event cancellation alerts need to be sent.
8. Faculty should make provisions for students who have been absent to obtain the necessary class materials once they return to class.

Updated: August 27, 2009

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