Jefferson
Prevention & Treatment
For Students
| For Faculty
| For Employees
|
For Parents
Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends four main ways you may keep from getting sick with the flu:
- Practice good hand hygiene.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Frequently clean your living area and commonly-used surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, computer keyboards, countertops, faucet handles, and bathroom areas. - Cover 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. - Stay home or at your place of residence until you recover and are fever free (without medications) for 24 hours.
Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate, friend, or family member to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed. - Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu and/or H1N1 flu.
Information about the H1N1 flu vaccination can be found at the CDC H1N1 web site.
Information about seasonal flu vaccine can be found at the CDC seasonal flu web site.
Treatment
Staff and faculty who have symptoms of influenza-like illness (fever, accompanied by aches and pains, sore throats, coughing, and trouble breathing) and wish to seek medical treatment, should contact their healthcare providers by telephone before seeking care. University students should contact University Health Services to review their symptoms and possible exposure.
In keeping with current guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) on treating influenza-like illness, University Health Services may prescribe antiviral medications on a limited, case-by-case basis, to those who are pregnant, severely ill, or have underlying health conditions (severe asthma, diabetes, immune deficiency).
Treating your symptoms:
- Fever — Fever is the most common flu symptom. To treat your fever, keep your room cool, wear light weight clothing, drink plenty of fluids, such as water, diluted fruit juices or Gatorade/Powerade, and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen per label instructions. Do not take aspirin. Fluid intake is important to avoid dehydration.
- Cough — a dry cough is a cough that does not bring up much mucous. Drink lots of clear liquids, avoid alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes. Rest, soothe your throat with salt water gargles (½ teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water) or cough lozenges.
- Body aches/headaches — Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will also help relieve body aches and/or headaches. Follow label directions.
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.
