Archives, BUCWIS

Barry University Health Update

Jul 01, 2009

The summer months are more often associated with sunburns than seasonal flu, but novel influenza (H1N1, formerly swine flu) has become a national health threat this year. As of June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert to a Phase 6 designation, indicating that a global pandemic is underway.

H1N1 flu virus symptoms are similar to symptoms of seasonal flu and most individuals recover without medical intervention. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this new H1N1 virus also have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

In the past week, the Student Health Center has identified several cases of suspected and confirmed influenza A on campus. Since the Miami Dade Public Health Department has reported that 98 percent of all current flu cases test positive for H1N1, it is safest to assume that these cases are H1N1.

Please continue to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of germs:

Stay informed. Health officials will provide additional information as it becomes available. Visit the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you are sick with a flu-like illness, please DO NOT COME TO WORK OR CLASS. Stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Keep away from other household members as much as possible. This is to keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

In most cases individuals with H1N1 flu recover without medical intervention. If you suffer from a chronic illness such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes or an auto immune disease, you should contact your health care provider upon the onset of symptoms.

For more information regarding H1N1 flu please go to http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

In Good Health,
Eileen E Hineline, RN-C, MS
Director, Student Health Center

	Submit article suggestions or corrections to Barry 4U!: barry-news@mail.barry.edu Report technical issues to DoIT: webupdate@mail.barry.edu