The flu season has already begun. This flu season (2009-2010), there are more uncertainties than usual because of the emergence of a new strain called H1N1 or "swine flu" that has caused the first influenza pandemic (global outbreak of disease) in more than 40 years. Up-to-date information on seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu is provided here and will be updated as needed.
What are the symptoms of the H1N1 flu?
What do I do if I get the flu?
Is there a help line I can call if I am concerned about my flu-like symptoms?
What are the Emergency Warning Signs?
What are the treatments for the flu?
How do I prevent getting the flu?
How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine?
What are some tips to stay healthy during the flu season?
How do I care for my roommate who has the flu?
How do I pick up food for sick roommates?
How do I request an excused absence from class due to flu?
The H1N1 flu currently affecting humans is a new influenza virus. It is usually a respiratory disease of pigs. People do not normally get H1N1 flu, but human infections can happen. We are now seeing it transmitted from person to person and causing a respiratory illness that is very similar to regular seasonal influenza.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include:
- Fever
- Achiness
- Lack of energy
- Lack of appetite
- Coughing
Some people with H1N1 flu also have reported:
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
How do I know if I have H1N1 flu?
The symptoms for H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms for seasonal flu. The lab test used by doctors for seasonal flu is not accurate for diagnosing H1N1. Your case may be presumed to be H1N1 flu if:
1. You have the symptoms listed for H1N1 flu
AND
2. Have had close contact within the last seven (7) days with a person who has a laboratory confirmed case of H1N1 flu;
OR
3. Have traveled with the last seven (7) days to a community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of H1N1 flu;
OR
4. Reside in a community where there is one or more confirmed H1N1 flu cases.
What do I do if I get the flu?
If you are sick, you should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (called "self-isolation"), except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Some people with influenza will not have fever; therefore, absence of fever does not mean absence of infection. You should stay away from others during this time period even if you are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu.
If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, and cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. In general, you should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness, especially people at increased risk of severe illness from influenza.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
If you are sick and sharing common spaces with other household members wear a facemask if available to help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Is there a help line I can call if I am concerned about my flu-like symptoms?
Students who have flu-like symptoms may call Redfern Health Center and speak to a nurse who can assess their symptoms to see if they should see a doctor or stay home and care for themselves.
Students who have flu symptoms - a fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue - and are concerned can call the appointment line at 656-1541 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to speak to a nurse. The after-hours nurse line number is 888-525-1333.
They will be referred to a nurse who may recommend that they make an appointment to see a doctor. If the symptoms are not severe and there are no other risk factors, the nurse may recommend that the student just isolate herself or himself from others until 24 hours after the fever is gone.
What are the emergency warning signs?
In adults, 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
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
If you are concerned about your illness or develop severe symptoms, such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure or rapid breathing seek care immediately at Redfern or another health care provider.
What are the treatments for the flu?
It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.
The CDC does not recommend a doctor's note for student, faculty, or staff to validate their illness or to return to work, as doctor's offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and may not be able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact Redfern or another health care provider to get medical care.
Antiviral drugs can be given to treat those who become severely ill with influenza. These antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with activity against influenza viruses, including novel H1N1 flu virus. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional. Current CDC and SC-DHEC guidelines state that people who have less-severe H1N1 flu symptoms and who do not have high-risk underlying medical conditions typically do not require antiviral therapy.
How do I prevent getting the flu?
CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu. While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three main seasonal flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal flu vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can make your illness milder if you get a related flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccine will not provide protection against the new H1N1 influenza.
The 2009 H1N1 vaccination is available for students at Redfern Health Center. Please watch your email for announcements about clinic schedule. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine - it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.
The seasonal flu vaccine is currently NOT available. Stay up to date and watch your email announcements about clinic schedule.
See Vaccine Schedule for current clinics on campus.
How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine?
The effectiveness of flu vaccines can vary and depends in part on the match between the viruses in the vaccine and the flu viruses that are circulating in the community. If these are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness (VE) is higher. If they are not closely matched, VE can be reduced. During well-matched years, clinical trials have shown VE between 70% and 90% among healthy adults. For more information about seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness, visit "How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?"
What are some tips to stay healthy during the flu season?
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have tissues cough into your sleeves.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
How do I care for my roommate who has the flu?
The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.
If possible, have only one person take care of the sick person. People at increased risk of severe illness from flu should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
Arrange for delivery of meals if possible to prevent the sick person from going out to dining halls or restaurants.
If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with roommates who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable.
Get and be a Flu Buddy. Flu Buddies are friends who agree to bring each other needed items and stay in touch during an illness. Having a flu buddy alleviates the stress of going out to get food, over-the counter medication and missed class assignments. A flu buddy reduces the number of people in close contact with a sick person and helps decrease the spread of H1N1 flu virus. Flu buddies should avoid close contact.
How do I pick up food for sick roommates?
Clemson Dining Service will be offering a flu meal kit option starting Friday, Sept 19, for those that have isolated themselves due to the flu. To use this service you will need to follow these steps:
Send an e-mail to David Ledbetter, dledbet@celmson.edu each evening before 8 p.m. to arrange to have a meal kit available for pickup the next day. This order must be placed each day you are sick for the following day's meal. Include the following information: your name, your student ID number for your meals to be deducted (Meal Plan, Tiger Stripe and Paw Points may be used), your residence hall and whether your meal will be picked up at Harcombe, Schilletter or Clemson House.
Give the person who will be picking up your daily meal a signed note stating you give them permission to use your meal card for this purpose. This will be cross-checked against the e-mail signup you have sent to dledbet@clemson.edu the evening before.
Flu meal kits will contain a combination of the following: bottled water, ginger ale, sport drink, snack crackers, Jell-O, microwavable soup, whole fruit and apple sauce.
How do I request an excused absence from class due to flu?
To notify your professor that you have the flu and request an excused absence from class, use the Notification of Absence system in Blackboard (MyCLE), which has been updated to let you specify that you have the flu.
Since students who have the flu can self-isolate and care for themselves, the Notification of Absence system replaces the Redfern receipt with the stamp showing you were treated for the flu.
You should stay home away from other people and not go to class until 24 hours after your fever has passed.
Redfern Health Center offers the seasonal flu vaccine, when available, to students from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students may make an appointment with the allergy and immunization clinic by calling 656-1541 or walk-in to be triaged through the nurse's clinic.
The shots cost $18, payable at the time of service. Unpaid balances will be added to the student's account at Redfern Health Center. The cost of the flu shot is covered under the wellness benefit of the Student Health Insurance if you purchased it.
The seasonal flu shots will not protect against H1N1 (swine) flu. The H1N1 vaccine is now available.
Vaccination clinic schedules for the H1N1 flu will be announced when that information becomes available.
Flu Related Resources:
For news and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Questions & Answers about 2009-2010 Flu Season
H1N1 Flu Vaccination Resources
CDC says "Take 3" Actions to Fight the Flu
For news and information from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC):
What to do to prevent the flu?
For news and information on H1N1 flu at Clemson University visit:
