H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Update

The 2009 H1N1 Virus (swine flu) outbreak is being closely monitored at Gallaudet University. The health and safety of the Gallaudet community is the University’s utmost concern and it is continuously monitoring the situation. This web site will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Vaccinations

Updated: November 18, 2009

Gallaudet's Student Health Service (SHS) has received the H1N1 vaccine and will begin providing free H1N1 vaccines to students, faculty, and staff.

Only those in one of the following priority groups as defined by the Centers for Disease Control will be eligible to receive a vaccination at this time. Those groups are:

• Pregnant women
• Parents or other primary caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care workers and emergency medical services (EMS) staff with direct patient care duties
• People ages 25 to 64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza (e.g. asthma, diabetes, chronic lung disease, blood disorders, HIV/Aids, etc.)
• Individuals age 6 months to 24 years of age (Note: SHS will only administer vaccines to children 14 years or older, separate vaccine hours are scheduled for students at MSSD. Parents with children at KDES (under age 14) should contact their pediatrician.)

H1N1 vaccine clinics will be held at at SHS on the following dates until the Thanksgiving holiday.

• Thursday, November 19, noon-4 p.m.
• Friday, November 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Monday, November 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 25, 9-11:30 a.m.

After the holiday recess, vaccines will be administered as available at SHS on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The www.flu.gov website offers a directory of other locations to find the H1N1 vaccine. 

Seasonal flu

Updated: November 19, 2009
SHS does not currently have a supply of the seasonal flu vaccine. SHS is strongly encouraging all students, faculty, and staff to receive the seasonal flu vaccine this season and those who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to contact their health care provider who may have doses available.

While the seasonal flu vaccine will not cover the H1N1 virus, the seriousness of the seasonal flu should not be understated—between 36,000 and 40,000 people die from the seasonal flu each year. 

It is recommended that people get both vaccines, especially those who are higher risk for either flu. Those at higher risk include:

• pregnant women
• people who live with and care for children younger than 6 months of age
• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years (this includes most students attending institutions of higher education)
• people ages 25-64 years of age who have chronic health conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes) or compromised immune systems

Symptoms

The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus and the symptoms of the seasonal flu are similar. 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 H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Avoiding and preventing illness

It is believed that the spread of H1N1 virus occurs in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with the flu. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something—such as a surface or object infected with flu virus secretions—and then touching their mouth or nose.

Prevention is key at this time, so the community should take care to review and follow the recommendations below. To aid the prevention effort, the University has installed hand sanitizing stations at convenient locations in its main buildings. You can help by following these tips:

1. Avoid close contact.
   Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
2. Stay home when you are sick.
   If possible, stay home from work, and school, and avoid running errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3. Cover your mouth and nose.
   Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4. Clean your hands.
   Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
   Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits.
   Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

What to do if you get sick?

If you do get sick and have the symptoms of the flu, stay home. You should do what you can prevent others from getting sick as well by isolating yourself and by limiting your contact with others. The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine), except to get medical care or for other necessities.

Students who have signs and symptoms of the flu should stay in their dorm rooms and contact their Resident Assistant (RA) regarding their illness. Commuting students should stay at home if they have symptoms. As always, students may also come to SHS for treatment of their symptoms. 

Faculty and staff should contact their health care provider for further medical instructions regarding specific symptoms.

Additional online resources concerning both seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus are:

• flu.gov
• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
• www.healthinfotranslations.org/video.php?id=817085 (ASL hand washing video)
• www.deafmd.org/pub/Swine-Flu-Influenza-A-H1N1/Public-Service-Announcement (ASL video about the H1N1 virus)