H1N1 Update

H1N1 Update – February 9, 2010

Students, Faculty & Staff,

Last semester the Student Health Center faced the unique challenge of preparing for and caring for a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus on campus.  Approximately four weeks before Thanksgiving break the H1N1 virus was confirmed on campus many students were ill with flu-like illnesses.  Approximately 125 students were seen and cared for by the staff at the health center.  We know, however, that this number probably represents only a portion of those who were sick.  Some went to their own physicians; some did not seek medical care at all. After returning from Thanksgiving, the number of cases dropped dramatically, coinciding with a decrease in the national H1N1 activity.

So far, the lull in influenza activity has continued here, as it has on college campuses across the country.  Excerpted below is data from a recent American College Health Association (ACHA) surveillance report:

“In this period of influenza activity [the week ending Jan 22, 2010], a total of 507 new ILI cases were reported (one hospitalization) among campus populations totaling over 2.3 million. Forty-six percent of 195 colleges and universities reported new ILI cases, compared to 49 percent reporting new cases for the previous period. The nationwide attack rate was 2.3 cases/10,000 students, fifteen percent lower than the previous period. The continued low disease incidence among college students is consistent with the decreasing trends nationwide.”

While we hope that this will be an uneventful semester with respect to H1N1, we continue to monitor the national situation closely, and to communicate with our local health department.  The preparations we made for last semester (and our experience with the outbreak) place us in good stead for this semester in the event that another wave of illness were to hit.   We continue to encourage all members of our campus community to practice good hygiene and to stay away from others while they are sick.  The CDC recommendation for self isolation of patients with influenza like illness (ILI) until they are free of a fever for 24 hours is still in effect, and our alternate housing option for ill students remains available in order to facilitate this effort if students are unable to go home and want to minimize continued exposure to roommates.

In addition, the CDC is advising the public to take advantage of this lull in flu activity to obtain the H1N1 vaccine.  Students should strongly consider being vaccinated if they have not been already.  Dates for Allegany County Health Dept clinics are available from the health center.

It is a privilege to serve students in the health center, and we trust that this semester will be a good (and healthy) one for each of the students at Houghton.  For more information from the CDC regarding the current status of H1N1, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Please also feel free to contact the health center staff with questions or concerns.

Dr. Brubaker

H1N1 General Information

Given the widespread global circulation and easy transmissibility of the H1N1 virus, it is likely that we will see cases on our campus this fall.

Informed by recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ongoing communications with the Allegany County Department of Health, we are taking steps to mitigate the spread of flu at Houghton and ask for your help in this task.

What are we doing?

  • Activating our response team. This team will meet regularly to monitor the current situation and to discuss and implement appropriate institutional responses.
  • Developing medical triage protocols for health center staff.
  • Promoting hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
  • Facilitating "Self Isolation." The CDC recommends self isolation of a sick individual until such time they are free of fever for 24 hours without medications that would lower fever. We will encourage those who can go home to do so. Students in private rooms will be asked to stay in their rooms until they are well. And we have identified temporary alternate housing for those who share a room and can't go home.
  • Communicating regularly with the Dept of Health.

What can you do?

  • If you are well...
    • Wash your hands frequently and cover your coughs and sneezes. Mom was right!
    • Encourage others to do likewise.
  • If you think you have the flu...
    • Contact the health center to help determine if you need treatment and/or testing. Tamiflu is not necessarily for everyone. But, if it is needed, it is most effective if started early in the illness.
    • Isolate yourself until your fever is gone for 24 hours. Stay away from classes, work, sports practice, chapel, other public events and the dining hall.
      • If going home is an option, we encourage you to do so. Develop a "flu plan" with your family ahead of time if possible.
      • If you have a private room, and can't go home, stay in your room. Identify a “flu buddy” who could bring you meals.
      • If you share a room and can’t go home, you may be asked to move temporarily to alternate housing.
    • Communicate with your professors. The student Life Office and health center staff can help facilitate communication if needed.
  • If you have been exposed...
    • Contact the health center to determine of any special measures are required.
  • Get vaccinated. The health center is working with the department of health to arrange vaccination clinics for both the seasonal flu and H1N1 viruses. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

If the severity of the H1N1 virus increases, more aggressive measures may need to be implemented. We will monitor the campus situation carefully and be in regular contact with the Allegany County Department of Health. Any recommendations regarding changes in or cancellations of campus activities on the basis of any flu outbreak will be communicated as needed.

More information on the H1N1 flu is available at the following websites: www.flu.gov; www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

Thank you for your efforts to keep all members of the Houghton Community in good health. Although we can't eliminate the spread of this virus, our collective efforts can significantly minimize its reach and overall impact.