Health Services
H1N1 Flu
November 9, 2009
NEWARK HEALTH CENTER, THE FLU AND YOU
TO ACCESS HEALTH SERVICES FOR QUESTIONS OR WISH TO BE SEEN:
Students (or faculty, staff, if they wish) should CALL and SPEAK with a clinician if they have questions about or suspect Flu infection.
Tel (973) 353-5231 extension 0
Students, staff, faculty should NOT come directly to the health center – appointments are scheduled in the late afternoon, as much as possible, in order to avoid transmitting flu to uninfected students. Remain in isolation until seen, Utilize mask to avoid infecting others. Masks are available upon entering the health center, or in residence halls for resident students.
Health Center staff will evaluate students as needed; will prescribe medication which can be obtained at the Newark Campus Pharmacy on the premises (at reasonable cost), and perform Quick Flu test if indicated.
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SELF-ISOLATE AT HOME and follow guidelines of CDC for Home Care once discharged from the health center. Students who may need special arrangements will be counseled on a case-by-case basis.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
CDC recommends that patients remain in isolation for 24 hours following the infection, during which time they are well, without medication.
Health Center clinicians will be happy to answer questions for employees, and students, but employees will be referred to their personal physicians for medical care.
Exceptions: if in dire distress – breathing problems, chest pain, very high fever, dehydration, may need emergency room attention immediately.
AFTER-HOURS CARE:
You may access our 24 hour nurse line at any time, including holidays, evenings and weekends for medical information and advice:
Tel (866) 221-9674
What is the concern about Seasonal Flu this year?
Seasonal flu occurs every year, causing millions of cases. It is associated with 36,000 excess deaths annually in the United States. Seasonal Flu vaccine is effective in reducing the incidence and complications of seasonal flu, by up to 90%, and is offered FREE at our emergency style flu clinic (POD) each year.
What is the concern about H1N1 flu?
H1N1 Flu is a novel virus, with genetic resemblance to the Pandemic Flu virus of 1918, which caused 50 million deaths worldwide. It also has genetic similarities to other avian, and swine flu viruses. Scientists are concerned that the H1N1 virus, although it currently causes relatively mild disease in many people, mutates frequently and spreads widely among humans. The fear is that H1N1 will intermingle with other avian flu viruses to produce a more dangerous strain, causing more severe illness and deaths. Protection against seasonal flu may mitigate this problem.
The time gap between availability of H1N1 vaccine and incidence of H1N1 flu presents a problem, because the infection may be present in September, October and November, before immunization has been completed. This makes prevention steps all the more important in preventing its spread.
The Public Health Response:
The public health response must be to prepare for a “worst case scenario” – everyone would be thrilled if this flu fizzled out, and resulted in mild cases, as it did the past spring and summer in New Jersey. However, this may not be the case again, so we must have an action plan.
Why should our young and healthy campus population be targeted?
One of the most susceptible high-risk groups for H1N1 flu are college students, because no one in this age group has immunity to the H1N1 virus, and since the immune systems of young adults are very active, they develop a strong inflammatory reaction to the virus, which in turn may damage the lungs, causing severe pneumonia, respiratory failure and death in some unfortunate patients. Furthermore college students often live in dense groups, especially in dormitories, frequently congregate in classrooms, social and sport events, eat at close quarters in cafeterias, use common bathrooms, and tend to minimize illness when it occurs. These conditions promote transmission of viruses.
Which students are especially at risk for complications?
Students with chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, heart, lung and kidney diseases, pregnancy, are especially at high risk for complications of flu. In addition health care workers, first responders, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, require special attention. If ill, or post exposure to a flu patient, they should call the physician immediately for prophylactic antibiotics, and immunization if needed.
How can we control this problem?
We know that viruses become more virulent and epidemics thrive when the rate of passage from person to person is most rapid.
We know that strict measures, adopted at the onset of an epidemic, can benefit our community, by reducing the incidence and rate of transmission of Flu. If the curve (incidence and rate) is flattened and slowed, it will facilitate the community’s ability to cope, while allowing classes and business to continue undisturbed.
Community members need to understand that THIS is the reason for ISOLATION of every flu patient at HOME. (social distancing). FIVE days or so of isolation is a small price to pay to avoid spreading disease. Though it may be mild in one individual, it may cause severe, life-threatening illness in a colleague or friend. No one wants to bear responsibility for their neighbor’s harm. Ultimately widespread infection can lead to suspension of classes and work also. THIS is why we ask professors and supervisors to be lenient about absences because of flu, and to establish alternative forms of distance learning for ill students, or for their classes in case the professor becomes ill.
Sandra Samuels, MD, Director, Rutgers University Health Service in Newark