Dear Ferris State Students, Faculty, Staff, Parents and Families:
As you may know, flu can be spread easily from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to prevent the spread of Novel H1N1 and seasonal flu at Ferris State University for as long as possible, but we need your help to accomplish this.
We are working closely with the Mecosta County Health Department District #10 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.
Symptoms of Novel H1N1 Influenza include the following: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. A good number of people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Here are a few things you can do to help:
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth: germs are spread this way.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
- Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever ( have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don't go to class or work. Isolate yourself or go home if you can.
- Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also if you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm
If this year's flu season becomes more severe, we may take the following additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus:
- Allow students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for complications to stay home. These students, faculty and staff should make this decision in consultation with their health care provider.
- Find ways to increase social distances (the space between people) in classrooms such as moving desks farther apart, leaving empty seats between students, and using distance learning methods.
- Extend the time sick students, faculty, or staff stay home or in their residence. During severe flu conditions the CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100' F [37.8'C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headaches, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
The Birkam Health Center will have more to report by posting additional updates on the website in the coming days. The Health Center is planning to have H1N1 vaccine available to priority groups according to Health Department rules as soon as the vaccine becomes available. In addition, we will have a limited number of doses of seasonal flu vaccine which is separate from H1N1 vaccine.
In the meantime, please monitor any of the following websites:
Paul Sullivan, Ph.D., LPC
Director, Birkam Health and Counseling Centers
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-2614
(231) 591-5968 |
