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Guidelines for Flu Illness

As the flu season approaches, Shepherd University will be monitoring outbreaks of seasonal and H1N1 flu, which is already a concern at many other campuses throughout the country. No H1N1 cases have been reported at Shepherd.

Shepherd students, employees, and guests are urged to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations:

*Persons with a fever and cough or sore throat, and sometimes body aches, headache, chills and fatigue (and sometimes vomiting and/or diarrhea) should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses, to others in their communities. People with influenza-like illness should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (i.e., body temperature below 100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

*Furthermore, the CDC advises students, faculty or staff who live either on or off campus and who have ILI (influenza like illness - see above symptoms) should self - isolate (i.e:, stay away from others) in their residence hall room or home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities (their fever should be gone without the use of a fever - reducing medicine).

*Limiting interactions with others means not going to class or work for at least 24 hours after one is free of fever (below 100° F [37.8°C]. Residence hall students should go home. If possible, travel in private car to your permanent home. For more information, access the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm.

Diagnosis and Treatment

1. If you suspect that you might have H1N1 "swine" flu, you can contact your health care provider, or please call the Student Health Center at 304-876-5161 (for students only), and you will be directed toward the proper care and treatment. The CDC expects that most people will recover without needing medical care.

2. If you experience difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, and or severe or persistent vomiting, get medical attention immediately.

3. If your symptoms improve noticeably and then worsen with fever and worse coughs, or if flu-like symptoms do not improve within two weeks, you should contact a physician/health care provider.

4. Antiviral drugs can be given to treat those who become severely ill with influenza. They must be prescribed by a health care provider. The drugs work best if given within two days of becoming ill, but may be given later if illness is severe or for those at high risk for complications [people age 65 and older, children under 5 years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people who are immunosupressed].

Vaccinations

This flu season there will be a seasonal flu and an H1N1 vaccine. All members of the Shepherd community are urged to get the seasonal flu shot as soon as possible. The seasonal flu vaccine must be taken before the H1N1 vaccine. More information on vaccinations will be posted on the Shepherd Health Center web site.

Prevention

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy. General public recommendations include the following:

Prevention, which involves staying away from others who are ill;
Hand washing; Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching eyes, mouth, or nose;
Cover coughs and sneezes (with a tissue if possible and throw the tissue in trash immediately;
Avoid crowds or heavily congested settings.
Avoid touching surfaces that could be contaminated by swine flu droplets from coughs, sneezing or contaminated hand contact.
Get plenty of rest, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of liquids, and eat nutritious food.

Sick Leave

Because the CDC is urging employers to modify absenteeism policies that discourage staff from complying with the recommendation to self-isolate, Shepherd University is modifying its sick-leave-documentation polices with regard to documentation required for multiple days of absence due to illness. It is currently intended that this modification will last for the duration of the 2009-2010 flu season. When this modification ends, we will notify staff by e-mail.

We are anxious for healthy employees to be at work, but we are asking employees who have flu-like symptoms to follow the CDC guidance and stay home in self-isolation.

A staff employee who has flu-like symptoms may stay home and practice genuine self-isolation. Such an employee may return to work within 10 work days with no physician's statement, but rather by simply submitting the Certification of Illness form. Certifying to "self-isolation" means the employee left home only for unavoidable or emergency requirements, if any. Employees should be aware that submitting a false form will be deemed serious misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with Shepherd University's discipline policies.

The Notice of Certification of Illness form is available at this link.

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