H1N1 Flu Update

September 29, 2009 |

Dear Members of the Goucher Community,

As promised, I am writing with another update about the H1N1 flu virus on our campus. This past weekend was relatively calm in terms of new cases of students with flu-like symptoms. Since Friday, September 25, there were only four additional students documented as demonstrating flu-like symptoms. This compares with much higher numbers of new cases reported each day in the previous weeks.

So far, 94 Goucher students have been documented as having flu-like symptoms, which is about 8 percent of our undergraduate student population. However, all of these students, except the four newly reported cases, have recuperated and are back to their normal routines on campus. It seems that most students with symptoms are quite sick for a day or two, and then they begin to improve. Total recovery time has generally been five to seven days, not seven to 10 days, as was previously expected.

Even though we had fewer sick students this past weekend, by no means does this indicate that the flu has necessarily run its course on our campus. There will continue to be peaks and valleys in the effects the flu has on the health of our community members for the remainder of the flu season. We must continue to be vigilant in taking preventive measures to decrease the spread of the flu. I cannot stress enough the importance of taking these precautions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Visit www.goucher.edu/H1N1 to learn what symptoms to look for, what to do if you get the flu, how to cope with anxiety about getting the flu, and the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you experience flu-like symptoms, contact Goucher’s Student Health Center at 410-337-6050. On weekends and after normal business hours, call Goucher’s 24-hour medical hotline at 866-330-2885. If your flu-like symptoms do not improve within five days, contact the Student Health Center again.

Please note that if you experience flu-like symptoms, it is imperative that you self-isolate in your room until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit; 37.8 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever – without the use of fever-reducing medications. If you have to leave your room for any reason, even to use the restroom, be sure to use the face mask that is included in the flu kit you receive. Please be respectful of the health and well-being of other community members.

You may notice that as we communicate about ill community members, we are careful to label them as demonstrating flu-like symptoms. Like most colleges and universities, Goucher does not have access to the test kit that tests specifically for the H1N1 virus. State health departments reserve those tests for people admitted to the hospital due to severe flu-like symptoms, pregnant women at risk for complications, people with serious underlying medical conditions, and health care providers. Therefore, our policy is to treat all students with flu-like symptoms with the precautions and procedures for the H1N1 virus, even if it cannot be confirmed which strain of the virus is causing the illness. As always, our top priority is to protect the health of the entire Goucher community to the best of our ability.

We hope to begin receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine at the end of October or early November; we have not been given an exact date. As is the case with many colleges, universities, and other institutions, we likely will not receive the full number of vaccine doses that we have requested until a later date. I will continue to provide updates about the arrival and availability of H1N1 vaccinations on our campus.

In the meantime, Goucher has scheduled clinics for students, faculty, and staff to receive seasonal flu shots. Though the seasonal flu shot does not protect people from getting the H1N1 virus, the CDC does also recommend this vaccine as the best protection against seasonal flu viruses.

Goucher’s Pandemic Flu Task Force continues to meet on a regular basis to assess the current situation and make sure we are implementing best practices at all levels. I will continue to keep you updated on further developments.

Sincerely,

Sanford J. Ungar

President