Weekly Influenza UpdateSeptember 18, 2009
TO: The Gustavus Community
FROM: The Gustavus Pandemic Advisory Committee
Greetings,
Officials at the Minnesota Department of Health report that there appears to be a significant increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) across the state. They are now classifying ILI activity as "widespread," the highest classification used in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting system.
It is not a surprise that we have seen continued transmission of ILI on our campus since our first known case last week. Gustavus now has 17 reported cases on campus. We appreciate that these individuals have done everything possible to self-isolate, whether going home or remaining in their rooms on campus.
Given that a safe and effective vaccine could be available as early as next month, we must do our best to slow the spread of ILI on campus in the meantime. We can and should do everything possible to reduce the virus's overall negative impact on our community.
A few important reminders:
- If you have a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit AND a sore throat, cough, body aches, or headache, please call the Health Service (507-933-7630) or the River's Edge Hospital in St. Peter (507-931-2200) to speak with a health care professional. They are best able to diagnose ILI and recommend clinical evaluation and/or treatment.
- If you are told that you have ILI (this includes H1N1 or seasonal influenza), complete and submit a Symptom Report Form found online at Gustavus's H1N1 Influenza A website: http://gustavus.edu/news/influenza/. This report helps the college track the number of cases on campus. If you are a student, it helps the college to contact you and make sure you are recovering well and not in need of any further assistance. Also, if you are a student, this form serves as official notice to professors that you are missing class due to ILI.
- Please visit the Gustavus H1N1 Influenza A website often. There you will find weekly influenza updates, links to the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC, and guidelines on when to seek immediate medical attention and what to do if you are at greater risk of complications. Online meal request forms can also be found on this site. We encourage you to bookmark this page and refer to it frequently.
Thank you for your close attention to our weekly updates this fall. We continue to focus on prevention -- such as hand washing, covering your cough, staying home if you are sick, and getting vaccines as they become available -- as the most important way to minimize the spread of illness.
Sincerely,
Pandemic Advisory Committee Co-Chairs
Heather Dale, Gustavus Health Service Director, and
Ray Thrower, Campus Safety Director