Miami's Response to H1N1
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Realistically, how serious will the H1N1 flu be?
A. Health and Human Services Director Kathleen Sibelius on Aug. 24 said it is plausible that up to 50 percent of the U.S. population could become infected with H1N1 before next spring. Miami medical director Dr. Greg Calkins says it is reasonable to expect 30 percent or more of the Miami community will contract H1N1.
Most people will be sick up to 7 days and recover without problems. High-risk people should see their health care providers.
Preventative Measures
- Before your roommate gets sick, be sure that you do not share cups, dishes, eating utensils, bathroom glasses, etc.
- Wash your hands frequently and minimize touching your nose, mouth, eyes, ears and face.
- Maintain a healthy immune system by eating well and getting 8 hours of sleep every night.
- Manage your stress with exercise/relaxation.
- Call and make an appointment at the Student Health Service (529.3000) for the Seasonal Flu vaccination now; when the H1N1 vaccine is available, be sure you get your vaccination.
More information: www.flu.gov or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
Q. How does it compare to the regular seasonal flu?
A. In a typical flu season, 5-20 percent of the population contracts the flu.
Q. Talk about the vaccines available for seasonal flu and for H1N1.
A. The H1N1 flu vaccine is not yet available. Miami will announce its plan for distribution, following CDC and Butler Co. Health Dept. guidelines, once the vaccine is here. The seasonal flu vaccine will be available to distribute to students by the 1st of September. Employees may receive the season flu vaccine at clinics Sept. 18 and Oct. 5.
Q. Will sick students be sheltered in one place on campus?
A. At this time there is no plan to shelter students in one (or several) places on campus. Because this particular virus is highly contagious, but the disease is relatively mild, sheltering in one place (or quarantining) is not a practical option. If students are sick and live within a reasonable driving distance of the campus, they may decide to go home until they feel better. But for the typical student, staying in their room with limited contact with others is the best approach.
Q. Are masks an effective deterrent? Will people be wearing them?
A. Students who come to the Student Health Service with specific symptoms will be given a mask when they wait in the building to be seen. If the student is diagnosed as presumptive for H1N1 we will give them a mask to use when they are “self-isolating” in their room and a friend brings them food or supplies. However, masks can give people a false sense of security. A sick person wears the mask to reduce making his/her contacts sick.
A healthy person needs to practice good prevention (hand washing, not touching my mouth, nose, eyes, etc., avoiding individuals who are sick etc. and not depend on a mask to reduce the risk of getting sick.) Masks do not work if they become wet or torn or are not worn properly (covering one’s nose and mouth and fitting snugly). Student health services strongly discourages wearing masks to walk around the campus or sit in a classroom; they are not effective used this way and are often uncomfortable to wear.
Q. When is it advised to go to the emergency room for H1N1 or associated complications?
A. Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, if Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, temperature over 102, not controlled by acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
In all other situations, if your student goes to the emergency room, s/he may be waiting for a very long time to be told to go home, rest, and practice self-care. There is one emergency room in Oxford, and as in all emergency rooms, care is prioritized based on need. CDC is strongly encouraging every one with mild symptoms to self-manage their illness because of an anticipated drain on available health care facilities, particularly emergency rooms.
Q. Should students with H1N1-diagnosed roommates isolate themselves in a hotel?
A. If your student’s roommate has the flu, the student has been exposed and going to a hotel would not eliminate that exposure. The best advice you can give your student (whether his/her roommate is sick or not) is: There is H1N1 flu on the campus. This flu is more easily spread than typical seasonal flu, but the disease itself is mild. Wash your hands frequently and minimize touching your nose, mouth, eyes, ears and face. Maintain a healthy immune system by eating well and getting 8 hours of sleep every night. Manage your stress with exercise/relaxation.
If your roommate is now sick, your roommate is encouraged to stay in his/her room and minimize contact with others. If the sick student’s home is relatively close, the student may decide to go home to recover, but the sick student is not expected to vacate the room. Your healthy student can be encouraged to use another study location, but that is also not necessary. Encourage your student to make sure surfaces such as: doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, cell phones, anything the roommates touch are cleaned regularly. Sanitizing wipes are very effective on objects such as these.
Q. Does Student Health Services provide Tamiflu for students?
A. The recommendations for providing Tamiflu are very limited and most patients with mild flu really should not take it. The greatest concern, according to the World Health Organization, is the risk that the H1N1 virus becomes resistant to the medication. Also, use of Tamiflu can prevent the person from developing any immunity to the virus. Each student’s symptoms will be evaluated individually and if appropriate, based on his/her clinical condition, the student may be given a prescription for an antiviral, such as Tamiflu. Tamiflu is also not recommended for routine prophylaxis in healthy individuals.
Q. When do you want to see a sick student?
A. It is important for students who have temperatures of at least 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius with a cough and/or sore throat to call the Student Health Service for an appointment (529-3000). Students who have flu symptoms but also have chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or heart problems also should call for an appointment.
Q. If students are supposed to “self-isolate” and stay in their rooms, how can they get a doctor’s note to present to their teachers?
A. Faculty are aware of the potential reach of the H1N1 flu and they know the student health service does not provide proof of illness. Please email your professors to tell them if you are ill. Faculty have been asked to be flexible regarding attendance and assignments by students who have the flu. If you attend class and display symptoms of the flu, your faculty member may ask you to leave.
Q. If I get the flu, should I tell my parents?
A. Self-isolating doesn’t mean to stop communicating. In any case of illness, you may wish to contact parents or guardians to let them know you’re sick. If you received medical care for the flu or other illness, you may also want to communicate regarding health insurance. For any incident of illness, it’s a good idea for your roommate or a friend to have your family’s contact information.
Q. Also, how will health services track how many students are sick if they’re staying in their rooms?
A. We will not be able to track total numbers as accurately as we would usually like. However, it is even more important for our treatment and advice to protect and help students and staff as much as possible. Our procedures will be influenced more by any future changes in the severity of illnesses. This is one reason why it is important to follow the advice in the next answer.
Q. How about sick faculty?
A. The CDC recommendation is that anyone with flu symptoms self-isolate (stay home with limited outside contact) until his/her temperature has been normal for 24 hours without any medications to reduce the temperature.
Q. How will staff report their sick time? Can they use personal or vacation time?
A. The offices of human resources and academic personnel have put forth these reminders regarding sick time: Classified staff: Classified staff need to follow the normal call-in procedure as determined by their supervisor to report an absence due to illness. Employees who experience flu-like symptoms after they come to work should report the illness to their supervisor and take the rest of the shift as sick time. This type of situation will not count as an “occurrence.” Food service staff who experience symptoms may not continue working in the kitchens or dining rooms. If a classified staff member has no available sick leave they can report the time as vacation, comp or personal time. Unclassified staff: Unclassified staff need to follow the normal call-in procedure as determined by their department to report an absence due to illness. If necessary, unclassified staff can use vacation in lieu of sick days. H1N1 is easily spread and staff are encouraged to go home if they become ill while at work.
Q. Will the university close if enough employees and students are sick?
A.The CDC is not recommending school closures at this time. Closing presents other challenges for students who live great distances from campus and for employees who are involved in critical projects. The plan for Miami is to have the various departments prioritize what their work flow would be when a critical number of employees are ill. This is to ensure that “essential” work continues and that student health and safety needs are met.
Q. Why are we not testing to make sure the Type A flu is H1N1? Won’t that make for a false count?
A. At this time, the CDC is limiting confirmation testing of H1N1 to hospitalized patients and “clusters” that they identify as needing further testing. This is based on several months of experience with the flu as it spreads throughout the world and the need to use limited resources wisely. Typing becomes more critical if the virus appears to change or become resistant to treatment, or if a seasonal flu virus appears during the same time.
Student Health Services
- 421 S. Campus Ave
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Phone: (513) 529-3000
Fax: (513) 529-1892 - Hours of
Operation:
8 am - 6 pm
Monday - Friday 