Kimberly Goff-Crews and Nimalan Chinniah: Flu update
October 2, 2009
To: University of Chicago Community
From: Kimberly Goff-Crews, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students in the University; Nimalan Chinniah, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Subject: University update on planning for the flu season
To the University of Chicago Community:
In the weeks preceding this new academic year, many of you received communications regarding the likely occurrence of H1N1 (swine) flu on our campus this fall. All of those communications, as well as supplemental information about the flu, can also be found on the University website at http://news.uchicago.edu/btn/swineflu.php.
Now that classes are back in session, we would like to offer some more specific information about vaccination, treatment, and testing for flu-like illnesses, and update you on our planning and tips for staying healthy. All of our plans and suggestions are based on guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with direction from the University of Chicago Medical Center, Section of Infectious Diseases.
Vaccination clinics
Students, emeriti faculty, benefits-eligible faculty, other academic personnel, and staff are encouraged to receive the seasonal flu vaccine either through your regular health care provider or at one of the upcoming free seasonal flu vaccination clinics held on campus: http://news.uchicago.edu/files/vaccine.list.pdf. This vaccine does not guard against H1N1 (swine) flu, but will prevent seasonal flu strains that are present this season and are just as unpleasant and disruptive to individuals as H1N1.
Later in October, we anticipate receiving a shipment of the H1N1 vaccine, which we will administer to all students, emeriti faculty, benefits-eligible faculty, other academic personnel, and staff in accordance with CDC guidelines. We will update you with more information when it becomes available.
Guidance for individuals with flu-like symptoms
Students with flu-like symptoms are strongly encouraged to stay in their rooms or apartments until 24 hours after the fever and/or other symptoms have resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications. Most patients do not need to be seen by a health care provider. For additional information on what to do if you have flu-like symptoms, please visit the University's flu website at: http://news.uchicago.edu/files/flu.selftriage.pdf. If you live in a residence hall, the residential staff can help you and your roommate as needed. Due to the anticipated surge of flu-like illness across campus, the Student Care Center (SCC) is unable to offer notes to confirm students' illness; faculty have been asked to refrain from requesting doctor's notes for students who are absent from class.
Faculty, other academic personnel, and staff with flu-like symptoms are also strongly encouraged to stay home until 24 hours after the fever and/or other symptoms have resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications. Regular sick-leave policies apply as well as FMLA (to care for ill family members). Instructors who need to miss class, or who have students absent due to illness, may review the suggestions provided on this website: http://news.uchicago.edu/btn/swineflu.suggestionsforinstructors.php
For additional information about what to do if you have flu-like symptoms, please visit: http://news.uchicago.edu/files/flu.selftriage.pdf
Testing for H1N1: Medically at-risk populations
Based on CDC guidance, the University is not routinely testing for H1N1. Experience from other schools shows that H1N1 (swine) flu is no more severe than seasonal flu, and treatment is no different. However, if you live with someone who has the flu and you have a medical condition that puts you at risk for complications associated with the flu, you are encouraged to seek possible prophylactic treatment (e.g. anti-viral medicine such as Tamiflu) from your regular health care provider. For more information about medically at-risk populations, please visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm.
Guidelines for staying healthy
All members of the community are reminded to:
- wash your hands frequently with soap and water;
- use the hand-sanitizing stations on campus as an alternative;
- cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm (instead of your hand) when you cough or sneeze.
We will provide periodic updates on the progress of the flu, as needed, in e-mails, in meetings, and on the University's flu web page, http://news.uchicago.edu/btn/swineflu.php. If you have questions related to the flu and the University that are not urgent, please e-mail questions to swinefluinfo@lists.uchicago.edu. For urgent matters, please contact your regular health care provider.
We wish you all a productive and healthy year.
Kimberly Goff-Crews
Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students in the University
Nim Chinniah
Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer