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Pandemic Planning and Response

H1N1 is on Campus. As expected H1N1 cases are now being reported on campus, and we should not be surprised if cases come through in "waves." These waves may coincide with academic milestones such as midterms, etc., when students often do not maintain good health habits (e.g., not enough sleep) or may have higher stress levels. Stay Informed, Adopt Prudent Health Practices, and Use this Web Site as a clearinghouse/link to H1N1 updates and information, as well as what you should do if you start to exhibit flu-like symptoms (briefly … stay in bed and rest!). 

H1N1: SEVERITY AND TRANSMISSIBILITY

• H1N1 is Highly Transmissible among Young Adults and Children (look at these two graphs)
  - H1N1 targets children and young adults in disproportionately high numbers.
  - Persons who have H1N1 are contagious for at least 24 hours after the fever has ended, and often even longer, so ill children/younger adults need to stay home to avoid infecting others.
• H1N1 Severity
  - For most persons: The effects of H1N1 have been similar to seasonal flu (some people will have only a mild illness, while others will feel miserable for a few days and then need a few more days to feel completely healthy), but a significant number of cases also include vomiting and/or diarrhea, which is not normally seen in seasonal flu.
  - HOWEVER, H1N1 is causing critical illnesses mostly in young adults, and new reports indicate that it is causing severe illness and death even among some healthy adolescents and adults, so we ask our students and younger employees, and their parents, to be vigilant during this time and seek medical attention if someone's condition begins to deteriorate rapidly.
  - Seek immediate medical help if you or someone you know is experiencing any of these conditions.

You Can Take Simple Steps to Stay Healthy, but Stay Home if You Get the Flu. We can take concrete steps to actually keep people from getting sick and reduce the peak number of cases at any given time. However, if you do exhibit flu-like symptoms then stay home from work until you have recovered to avoid infecting others.

KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS HEALTHY:
(click to enlarge: Cover Your Cough or When to Wash)

STO H1N1 Links:

Why is H1N1 a Concern for Young Adults and Children?

How to Stay Healthy During a Pandemic:
Follow These Simple Steps

• If You Have Flu-Like Symptoms then you most likely have H1N1 Influenza.
  Stay Home and Follow These Steps for:
  - Students
  - Faculty
  - Staff

H1N1 Symptoms
Online self-diagnosis (Emory Univ)

MN Dept of Health 24-Hour FluLine 1-866-259-4655
(Talk Directly with a nurse about treatment options and whether you should seek additional medical care. This is a toll-free call.)

Faculty/Staff with sick family: If you stay home to care for a sick family member then please follow the St. Olaf HR Guidelines for Flu Season Absences.

Are You at a Higher Risk for Complications from H1N1?
If you have one of these conditions then please consult your physician about any special precautions for dealing with H1N1

Travelers: Click Here to Find out How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Campus Visitors: Should You Come to Campus? We ask that you do not visit campus if you have flu-like symptoms. Otherwise please do come visit us!