Jefferson
H1N1 Influenza Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For Students
| For Faculty
| For Employees
|
For Parents
What should I do if I am sick?
The best way to prevent from getting sick is to follow these flu prevention measures:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash. When a tissue is unavailable, cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow or shoulder instead of your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Monitor yourself for the symptoms of influenza-like illness which include fever, accompanied by cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
But if you do get sick, please contact University Health Services at (215) 955-6835 to report your illness and to receive guidance about treatment. If you do not have patient care responsibilities and develop symptoms of influenza-like illness (fever, body aches, dry cough and sore throat) do not go to class or other public places until you are fever free (without medications) for 24 hours.
If you have clinical responsibilities in communities where H1N1 transmission is occurring (or have been working in areas of the hospital where H1N1 patients are present) and develop symptoms, you should not return to a clinical setting for 7 days or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer. You must be cleared by UHS prior to your return.
You may consider leaving campus to stay with family until you recover. If you do leave campus, please inform University Health Services and travel in a way that limits your contact with others (for example, avoid public transportation).
- Promptly seek medical attention if you have a medical condition that places you at higher risk of flu-related complications. (pregnancy, severe illness or underlying health conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency).
- If possible, those who live in campus-housing should return home to keep from making others in the residence hall sick. Ill students should be driven rather than driving themselves and should travel in a way that limits contact with others (e.g., avoid public transportation).
- If that is not possible, self-isolate; that is, stay home and away from other people until you no longer have signs of fever (without medication) for 24 hours. During the period of self-isolation, you should limit your contact with others. If such contact cannot be avoided, you should wear a surgical mask to prevent others from getting sick.
Severe symptoms include:- increased fever
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or pressure
- fast breathing
- bluish or grayish skin color
- severe or persistent vomiting
- sudden dizziness
- confusion
- flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Will University Health Services prescribe antiviral medication to students?
In keeping with current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), on treating influenza-like illness, University Health Services will prescribe antiviral medications on a limited, case-by-case basis, mainly to those who are pregnant, severely ill or have underlying health conditions (severe asthma, diabetes, immune deficiency).
What should I do if I miss class due to influenza-like illness?
You should contact your instructors immediately and let them know that you have an influenza-like illness and will be missing class. You are responsible for making up any work you miss and for working with your instructors to minimize the disruption caused by your absence. If your illness causes you to miss more than a week of class, you should contact the advising office of your program or school.
What should I do if my roommate or friend gets sick?
Here are some guidelines to follow if your roommates, friends, hall mates, or neighbors develop influenza-like illness:
- Avoid face-to-face contact with the sick person.
- If close contact cannot be avoided, the sick person should wear a surgical mask when he or she is around people.
- Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner after you touch the sick person or handle items he or she has touched.
- Frequently clean commonly-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, computer keyboards, countertops, faucet handles and bathroom areas.
- Monitor yourself for flu symptoms and contact University Health Services (215) 955-6835 if you develop symptoms.
Will classes be cancelled?
The Centers for Disease Control and Philadelphia Department of Public Health do not recommend that schools and universities cancel classes or large public gatherings. In the event that they change this guidance and recommend that the University suspend operations to limit the spread of H1N1, you will be notified via this site, our Intranet sites, e-mail and through JeffALERT our Emergency Notification System that can send out alerts through text messaging, voicemail and e-mail to numerous devices such as cellular phones, landline phones, fax machines and PDAs. Students can visit our JeffALERT web site to learn how to update their contact information to receive these communications. If classes are cancelled, we may recommend that you return home to avoid unnecessary contact with others.
How should I plan for a pandemic?
It is recommended that you have plans in place in case you have to stay or return home due to illness.
- Talk with your family or friends about what your plans would be if the residence halls were to close.
- If you live alone, think of someone you could ask for help if you became very ill with the flu. Discuss with that person what you might need and how he or she could help. To avoid spreading the illness, you should try to rely upon a single person and should wear a mask when interacting with him or her.
- If you become ill, plan on remaining at home (except for medical treatment) until you have been fever free (without medication) for 24 hours.
- Display the phone number of your family doctor so it can easily be seen. Find a doctor this month if you don't have one already. Students and employees can visit University Health Services (833 Chestnut St., Suite 205; 215-955-6835) if they are ill.
- Know whether or not you or a family member has an underlying condition (including pregnancy, severe asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency) that can be associated with higher risk of developing severe illness when influenza infection occurs. If an underlying condition is present, a physician should be contacted right away if an influenza-like illness develops.
What should I do if I am sick?
Contact University Health Services at (215) 955-6835 to report your illness and to receive guidance about treatment. If you do not have patient care responsibilities and develop symptoms of influenza-like illness (fever, body aches, dry cough and sore throat) do not go to class or other public places until you are fever free (without medications) for 24 hours. If you wish to seek medical treatment or have medical questions, you should contact your healthcare provider. If you feel well enough to work, you should do so from home, using Blackboard tools to communicate with students in their classes and/or to conduct classes remotely.
You must be cleared by UHS prior to your return to work.
If you have clinical responsibilities in communities where H1N1 transmission is occurring (or have been working in areas of the hospital where H1N1 patients are present) and develop symptoms, you should not return to a clinical setting for 7 days or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer. You must be cleared by UHS prior to your return.
- Promptly seek medical attention if you have a medical condition that places you at higher risk of flu-related complications. (pregnancy, severe illness or underlying health conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency).
- Self-isolate; that is, stay home and away from other people until you no longer have signs of fever (without medication) for 24 hours (those with clinical responsibilities should not return for 7 days or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer). During the period of self-isolation, you should limit your contact with others. If such contact cannot be avoided, you should wear a surgical mask to prevent others from getting sick.
Severe symptoms include:- increased fever
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or pressure
- fast breathing
- bluish or grayish skin color
- severe or persistent vomiting
- sudden dizziness
- confusion
- flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Consider what steps you can take now to limit the disruption IF you develop influenza-like illness.
- Develop plans to manage your class, laboratory or office if you or your staff becomes ill.
- Plan for disruptions to your courses, including informing your students about:
- policies and expectations regarding class attendance;
- procedures for making up in-class assignments and exams for students who are absent due to illness;
- procedures to notify students if you need to cancel class unexpectedly.
- Purchase flu prevention supplies such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, disinfectants and disposable wipes for your classroom, laboratory or office through established procedures for obtaining office supplies. Frequently clean commonly-touched surfaces such as desks, door knobs, keyboards and counters.
Where should staff and faculty go for medical attention?
Staff and faculty who become ill while at work can be seen at University Health Services and most likely will be sent home if H1N1 influenza is suspected. UHS, located at 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 205, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 – 4:00. Staff and faculty who are experiencing flu-like symptoms at home should stay at home and contact their personal physician.
What are students being told to do if they develop influenza-like illness?
Students who develop influenza-like illness are asked to report their symptoms to University Health Services. They will be told not to attend class or exams and to contact their instructors to make arrangements to make up assignments or exams. Students who miss class for more than a week will be told to contact their school or program advising office.
If the staff of UHS thinks that the student plans to ignore UHS’s advice and attend class, the student will be informed that UHS will contact course directors and the Dean of Student Affairs regarding the restriction from class.
If you suspect a student is ill, please do not hesitate to recommend that the student be evaluated by University Health Services (833 Chestnut Street, Suite 205).
When would Jefferson limit or suspend normal operations due to influenza? How would we be notified?
At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health are not recommending that educational institutions suspend classes or cancel events. However, it is possible that public health officials could recommend that Jefferson suspend normal operations in order to limit the spread of H1N1. This scenario could include suspending classes or canceling large public gatherings such as symposia and social programs. The length of a suspension of normal operations and the impact on educational and research programs would depend upon the severity of the pandemic and public health officials’ ongoing evaluation of the health risks.
If normal operations are suspended, the Jefferson community will be notified via our Intranet sites, e-mail and JeffALERT our Emergency Notification System that can send out alerts through text messaging, voicemail and e-mail to numerous devices such as cellular phones, landline phones, fax machines and PDAs. University faculty, please visit our JeffALERT web site to learn how to update your contact information so you receive these communications.
You may also check the University’s Operational Status by viewing this site’s home page on the top right hand column.
Latest Info
UNIVERSITY STATUS
The University is open and operating normally.
All students, faculty and staff with flu-like symptoms are urged to remain out of class, the library, offices and other public places. You may resume normal activity only after being fever free for 24 hours (without medication). This applies to those WITHOUT patient care responsibilities.
For up-to-the-minute information about influenza, please see the Centers for Disease Control web site.
For up-to-the-minute information about the Philadelphia area please see the Philadelphia Department of Public Health web site.
For the latest case count in Pennsylvania, please visit the PA Department of Health web site.
STAFF & FACULTY
Inquiries about international travel should be directed to the Office of International Affairs at (215) 503-4335.
