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Influenza Information

August 28, 2009

Dear Springfield College Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Springfield College is working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to monitor flu conditions. When new information becomes available, we will use a variety of campus communication methods to disseminate this information, including the Health Center page on the Springfield College Web site and the electronic bulletin board.

Because the flu can be spread easily from person to person, there are many actions you can take to keep yourself healthy and to prevent the spread of the illness to others. Please take a moment to review these steps, which are outlined below.

Action Steps to Prevent the Spread of Flu

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Possible signs of fever include a flushed appearance, sweating or shivering, and feeling warm to the touch. Other symptoms include: fever or chills and cough or sore throat, body aches, a runny nose, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or vomiting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four main ways that can help limit the spread of the flu virus:

• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Wet your hands with water. Apply soap and rub hands together for 20 seconds. Rinse hands well under running water. Dry your hands with a paper towel and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands. When using an alcohol-based hand cleaner, apply the product to the palm of one hand and rub over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry. Hand cleaners and disposable cleaning wipes will be placed around campus.
• Practice respiratory etiquette. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.
• Stay home or at your place of residence if you are sick for at least 24 hours after a fever has subsided. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). If you live in a residence hall, make sure your Resident Assistant knows you are ill. Stay away from others to prevent others from getting sick. Ask a roommate, friend, or family member to check in on you and to bring you food and supplies as needed. NOTE: Residential students on the meal plan can order a meal to-go through “Chef’s Express” by contacting Cheney Hall at 748-3205. Information is available at www.springfieldcollege.campusdish.com.
• Talk with your health care provider about whether you should be vaccinated for the seasonal flu and/or the 2009 H1N1 flu. If you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at a higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.

Campus Monitoring of the Flu

If this year’s flu season becomes more severe, Springfield College may take the following additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus:

• Allow students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for complications to stay home. These students, faculty, and staff should make this decision in consultation with their health care provider.
• Extend the time sick students, faculty, or staff stay home or in their residence. During severe flu conditions, those who are sick should stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better. Those who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away.
• Suspend classes. This decision will be made with local and state public health officials and the Office of Academic Affairs. The length of time classes should be suspended will depend on the severity and extent of illness.

For more information about the flu in Massachusetts, please visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu. For the most up-to-date information on the flu, you can visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636). We will notify you of any additional changes to our institution’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus. Sincerely,

David Braverman, PhD Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Linda Gourlay, MSN, FNP Director of Health Services

Health Center Hours

• Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM during the fall and spring semesters
• Closed weekends and holidays.
• Please call 748-3175 to check for specific hours for Medical Clinic, Gynecology Clinic, and Orthopedic Clinic.

Contact Information

• Springfield College Health Center
• 263 Alden Street
• Springfield, MA 01109
• Telephone: (413) 748-3175
• Fax: (413) 748-3444

Additional Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Resources

• H1N1 Vaccination
• FAQ Seasonal & H1N1 Flu
• U.S. Government Flu Web Site