Administration

Santa Fe
H1N1/09 (Swine Flu) Influenza Campus Protocol

Overview of Concern for H1N1/09 Influenza

The faculty and staff at St. John’s College are committed to the health and safety of our learning community, both within and outside the classroom environment.  This school year, especially this fall semester, we are likely to face a challenging health threat – the H1N1/09 (aka Swine Flu) Influenza.  This influenza has remained in circulation since it first appeared in late April 2000, but with low level activity.  We expect there to be a resurgence of significant H1N1 flu activity this fall.

Both seasonal and pandemic influenza usually move through a community in 6 - 8 weeks.  The chief differences are morbidity and mortality.  Seasonal flu infects about 10 percent of the population.  Pandemic flu, in contrast, can be expected to infect 15 - 40 percent - occasionally even more - because it presents the human population with new antigens that the human immune system does not recognize.  Because pandemic flu (H1N1/09) has not circulated as a seasonal flu in this combination, younger people are considered to be at greater risk of infection.  Younger populations, age 5 - 24 (even to 40), have a lower likelihood of having been infected with or been vaccinated against past seasonal influenza viruses that may provide some protection due to immune system memory.  Therefore, persons age 65 or older may be at lower risk for infection with H1N1/09.  Having received past seasonal flu vaccination and suffered with past influenza confers some protection against components of the circulating H1N1/09.

Younger people, age 5 – 24, may be a greater risk for getting the H1N1/09 flu, but it is expected to be no more deadly or serious than seasonal influenza.  Those that are at greater risk for complications to the seasonal flu are also considered at greater risk from the H1N1. 

Please review the following protocol for guidance on how to protect yourself and your community from H1N1 infection.  We must all take this seriously and work together to stay healthy and prevent unnecessary spread of infection.

PREVENTION

Individual Responsibility:
-- frequent hand-washing with soap and water or use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
-- hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed in key locations on campus where access to water is not convenient or where clean hands are vital (i.e. as one walks into the dining hall).  These hand sanitizers should not take the place of good hand washing and the sanitizer should be allowed to air dry to be most effective in killing viruses and bacteria on one’s hands

engage in behaviors that protect your immune system
-- adequate sleep
-- lots of hydration
-- eat a balanced diet
-- exercise regularly
-- limit alcohol consumption

get vaccinated!
-- the H1N1 vaccine will be available at no cost from the health department
-- look for announcements (probably in October 2009) of on-campus vaccination clinics
-- priority for vaccine will include students, pregnant community members, those at high risk for complications, key support staff (B&G, Aramark, etc), faculty, senior residents, health staff, and other key staff members.

College Responsibility

-- B & G will sanitize daily “high touch” surfaces, i.e. doorknobs, bathroom surfaces
-- The Student Health & Wellness will communicate regularly with the campus community regarding updates on H1N1 flu activity.  The SHO will update the college webpage to facilitate communication with parents and the larger St. John’s Community as well.
-- The SHO is committed to procuring supplies to aid in your personal prevention strategies, i.e. personal hand sanitizer bottles, tissues, vitamin C, single use thermometers, masks.

What Does H1N1 Influenza Look Like?

Symptoms:
Fever (101F or greater), body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sore throat, cough, may have nausea and diarrhea

Incubation and duration of illness:
 Symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure.  People may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to seven days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, can be contagious for longer periods. 

Treating and Containing the Illness

Individual Responsibility

If you develop influenza like illness (ILI) symptoms, it is your responsibility to distance yourself from others to prevent spread of illness.  Spread primarily takes place by coughing or sneezing droplets filled with virus into the air.  Also, spread occurs by touching your face (nose & mouth) then touching others surfaces, i.e. doorknobs.

The College expects the following if you have ILI symptoms:

--Do not attend class
-- Email your tutor that you are ill
-- Email the Assistant Dean that you are ill
-- Stay in your room and greatly limit time spent around others
-- Find a “buddy” or friend to go the dining hall to procure meals for you and have them brought back to your dorm (buddies are someone who is not ill).  Your RA and Mr. Johnston can help with this strategy
-- If you must go out, it is advised that you wear a mask (your RA has them)
-- If you are ill and can’t go to class, you do not belong in the dining hall, library, lecture, party or other social activity
-- Call or email the Student Health Office (x6418 or taselvage@sjcsf.edu) for advice on self care (RAs have supplies to assist you in monitoring your fever and helping you feel better).

COVER YOUR COUGH WITH A TISSUE OR THE BEND OF YOUR ARM

WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY.  Throw the tissue in the trash.

Stay away from others that are well until 24 hours after you are naturally fever free (not controlled by medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®).  Do not take aspirin when you have the flu.

Caring for yourself or a friend with the Flu:

  • stay hydrated (water, non-caffeinated beverages, Gatorade®, Recharge®, etc.
  • rest a lot – stay in bed
  • control your fever – this will also control body aches & chills
  • Ibuprofen 400 – 600 mg every 6 hours
  • Acetaminophen 650 – 1000 mg every 4 – 6 hours
  • Cool cloth or ice pack to the back of the neck or forehead
  • eat as tolerated – soup, crackers, frozen yogurt or ice cream, whatever tastes good to you
  • you may take vitamin C (up to 1000 mg)
  • gargle with salt water or use throat lozenges
  • use multisymptom over-the-counter remedies (i.e. Dayquil®)
  • if you are at risk for complications to the flu (i.e. pneumonia), you may be prescribed Tamiflu®.  You are at risk if you have asthma, diabetes, immune system suppression, chronic illness, care for or live with someone who has one of these conditions.  You are also at risk if you are under 6 months old or 65 years old or older.  Tamiflu® prescriptions are reserved for high risk    individuals and those that are severely ill.

College Responsibility for care

Supplies will be provided to your RAs for care in the dorm areas.

-- fever reducers, single use thermometers, tissues, hand sanitizer, masks, vitamin C, disposable wipes for cleansing “high touch” surfaces, i.e. doorknobs, keyboards, desks, etc.
-- The dining hall will have a ready supply of take out plates, cups, etc. for bringing food back to the dorm areas
-- Your RA and Residential Life will assist with the creation of a “buddy system” to make sure you get what you need to be more comfortable and get well
-- The Student Health Office will provide updates to the college community via email and website notices.  It is the individual’s responsibility to check these sources – check your campus email account regularly.
-- The SHO will prescribe Tamiflu® to those who are at high risk for complications.B & G will disinfect “high touch” surfaces at least daily and provide materials for residents to do additional disinfecting as needed.  Trash will also be removed frequently.

Many of us may become ill within a few week time period, but if we are conscientious of our community responsibilities, we can limit how many will become ill.  Classes will meet and the faculty (under advisement of the Dean) will make sure coursework is continued.  Do not waste your absences.  If you run into absence difficulties, keep in contact with the Assistant Dean. 

Faculty and Staff members will also become ill, so we must all be patient and cooperative regarding service provision.  Hopefully, we will experience a lower level of illness and have only a minor impact on our community. 

Resources:

http://nmhealth.org/H1N1/index.shtml
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
http://pandemicflu.gov/index.html
http://www.acha.org/info_resources/pandemic_flu.cfm
http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/school/higheredguidance.pdf
http://h1n1.nejm.org/?query=rthome