Weekly Influenza UpdateSeptember 11, 2009
TO: The Gustavus Community
FROM: The Gustavus Pandemic Advisory Committee
Greetings,
H1N1 Influenza is much in the news of late, particularly as the virus continues to circulate throughout our region and state. Minnesota universities and colleges, including Gustavus, have been proactively preparing for a busy influenza season.
The Minnesota Department of Health is currently only confirming cases of H1N1 among hospitalized individuals. Thus, at Gustavus, we are adopting the public health term Influenza-like Illness (ILI) to describe clinical symptoms associated with the H1N1 virus. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue.
With that in mind, we write to inform you that ILI has arrived on the Gustavus campus. There have been four reported cases to date. As expected, these cases are relatively mild and are being managed well with rest, plenty of fluids, and fever-reducing medication as needed.
Please note the following two ILI updates:
- All campus community members: If you develop ILI symptoms, please complete and submit the symptom report form now available on the College’s H1N1 website. The form helps the Gustavus Health Service to track the incidence of ILI on campus. It helps the College in its outreach efforts to support those suffering from ILI with appropriate services. If you are a student, you may also choose to use the interactive form to notify your professors that you are ill.
- Students only: As you know, if you come down with ILI, you are encouraged to leave campus, if possible, until 24 hours after any fever subsides. For those unable to leave, Gustavus Dining Services now offers convenient online meal request forms.
- Employees: We encourage campus divisions, departments, and offices to stock up on infection control supplies such as hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes through OfficeMax.
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to review President Ohle’s latest H1N1 memo to the Gustavus community. It includes good information on ILI prevention. It highlights the importance of working with your provider proactively if you have an underlying health condition. In addition, it includes important directions on social distancing in the event that you fall ill. We can and should do everything possible to minimize the spread of ILI this season.
In the coming weeks and months, our committee will continue to follow guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the American College Health Association regarding ILI management and related communications.
Thank you in advance for your diligence in reporting your symptoms and following the College’s social-distancing recommendations. Thanks, as well, for your close attention to our weekly updates this fall.
Sincerely,
Pandemic Advisory Committee Co-Chairs
Heather Dale, Gustavus Health Service Director, and
Ray Thrower, Campus Safety Director