Health Issues

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic -Limited to LSSU Students,faculty and staff. Please present your LSSU ID at the clinic.

Date: November 20, 2009 Friday
Time: 8am - 12 noon (or until supplies last)
Location: Main Entrance LSSU Library
Cost: No Charge

This is the injection type H1N1 vaccine. We do suggest individual’s educate themselves regarding the vaccine and come prepared the day of the clinic. Information regarding the H1N1 vaccine is available on the this website as well as links to the CDC and Chippewa County Health Department..

This clinic is for adults only. If you have any questions, please contact Karen at the Health Center 635-2418 or ext 2418.

Target Group:
:LSSU STUDENTS/FACULTY AND STAFF – YOU MUST HAVE YOUR LSSU ID IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE. DUE TO THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF THE VACCINE WE WILL ONLY BE OFFERING THE VACCINE TO LSSU STUDENTS/FACULTY AND STAFF – THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SPOUSES.

LSSU RESPONSE TO H1N1 CONCERNS

Recently, we have had a number of students contact us via email with concerns about the number of people who are ill and about those who may have H1N1. We are writing this note to share information with you about how we are monitoring the situation and what we know as of today (November 4, 2009).

The Health Center is monitoring their situation daily based on their student patients. Additionally the offices of, Student Life, Residence Life and the Provost are, likewise, checking. The following is a report I have received from our Health Center:

• The Health Center has seen a spike in the past two and one-half weeks, but this includes many types of Upper Respiratory type Infections (URI), from H1N1 or Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) to something as simple as a common cold (patients with URI may be at the beginning or the end of ILI -  this is difficult to determine).
• According to the Health Center we have seen 65 students with upper respiratory tract infections (as of 11/4/09 at 10 AM). We believe that we have 25 cases of H1N1/ILI so far. This means that the majority of the illnesses are not ILI.
• Some of our health care providers also work at local urgent care offices and the trend on campus is the same one they are seeing at those locations - ILI, H1N1 and URI issues. Again, in most cases, the illnesses are not the flu.
• Currently the Health Center is able to handle the situation, however the Health Care Center staff meets daily to evaluate our numbers and we communicate with the other departments above to confirm our observations and seek to add any appropriate data from those offices.

What is most heartening is that many people on campus are following the guidelines we have suggested posted on signs, public monitors and the LSSU Health Center’s web page, which means that many are self isolating, staying home, using antibacterial washes, hand washing, covering coughs or sneezes and avoiding physical contact. Remember, H1N1 is llikely to spread from person to person in the same way as seasonal flu. The main way that influenza is spread is through the coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may also become infected by touching something with the flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

The Health Center has enacted further precautions – a patient with ILI symptoms, cough, fever, sore throat, body aches, congestion, fatigue, chills, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting is required to don a mask upon entering the Health Center. Anyone with ILI symptoms is then being placed in a separate waiting room from the main waiting area. The Health Center staff is also wearing masks to protect the employees from the spread of infections.

If it is determined that we need to cancel classes for a period of time an announcement will be made using all means necessary to ensure that our community is aware of this decision. If you have any questions, please direct them to either the office of the Provost or the VP for Student Affairs.

SEASONAL FLU VACCINE

For information regarding the seasonal flu vaccine please call the Chippewa County Health Department flu hot line at: 906-253-3141 or visit their website www.chippewahd.com

The LSSU Health Center is out of the seasonal flu vaccine and we will not be receiving additional vaccine supply.

H1N1 Vaccine

People are highly encouraged read the official web sites (i.e. cdc.gov) regarding the live vaccine (nasal srpay) and the inactivated vaccine (injection).

• Side effects of the LAIV vaccine (live vaccine - nasal spray) may include runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, chills, tiredness, sore throat and headache.

Some people who should not get the Live H1N1 nasal spray vaccine:

• Allergic to eggs
• Children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Anyone with a weakened immune system
• Anyone with a chronic health problem
• Anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system.
• Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.

The LSSU Health Center will be offering the H1N1 inactivated vaccine (injection) as soon as it becomes available. There will be no charge for this vaccine.

www.chippewahd.com

Flu hot line Chippewa County Health Department:: 253-3141

H1N1 has arrived on our campus.

If you are experiencing flu like symptoms as listed below, please do not go to school or work. We are asking individuals to self isolate until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with your hands and clean surfaces frequently with antibacterial cleaner. If you feel you need to be seen by a health care provider, you may contact the Health Center at 635-2110 or ext 2110.

What you Need to Know

What is novel H1N1(swine flu)?

Novel H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on) is a new influenza virius causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way the regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway. (adpated per cdc.gov)

Signs and Symptoms:

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of human flu and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Sore Throat
• Body Aches
• Headaches
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

How does flu spread?

Spread of this H1N1 flu virus is thought to be happening the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: WASH YOUR HANDS! Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water.
• Use antibacterial wipes to clean room surfaces frequently.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.
• Get a seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine (when available).

Are there medications to treat H1N1 flu?

Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir orzanamivir for treatment and/or prevention of infection with these H1N1 influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make yo ufeel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. During the current pandemic, the priorty use for influenza antiviral drugs during is to treat severe influenza illness (for example hospitalized patients) and people who are sick who have a condition that places them at high risk for serious flu-related complications.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away tisse in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with the flu, CDC recommends that you stay at home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Novel H1N1 Vaccine

Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot of illness, doctor's visits, hospitalizations and deaths. CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result lin a particularly severe flu season this year. Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza. CDC hopes that people will start to go out and get vaccinated against influenza as vaccines become available at their health care provider's offices and in their communities. The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the novel H1N1 influenza. However, a novel H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine - it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where H1N1 (swine) flu cases have been identified and become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influezna testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. On August 5, 2009, CDC changed its recommendation related to the amount of time people with influezna should stay away from others. New guidance indicates that people with influenza should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Confusion
• Sudden dizziness
• Severe or persistent vomiting

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trough breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with rash

Adapted from the CDC influenza web site. Retrieved on August 18, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease.htm

HANDWASHING...
Do you really know how to do it?

Proper hand washing is proven to aid in one’s overall good health.

Improved adherence to hand hygiene has been clinically proven to terminate outbreaks in all facilities and to reduce overall infection rates. Hand washing with soap and water remains the most sensible preventative strategy against acquiring infections and is recommended by the CDC and other experts. Here are some tips for effective hand washing:

• Adjust water flow so that the water is warm. Warm water removes less protective oil of the skin than hot water.
• Wet hands thoroughly, and apply soap to hands. In addition, hold the hands lower than the elbows so that water flows from the arms to the fingertips. This ensures that water flows from least contaminated to the most contaminated.
• Use firm rubbing and circular movements to wash the palm, back, wrist, and interdigital areas (between fingers). This process should be done for a minimum of 20 seconds (try to sing “Happy Birthday” once or twice).
• Dry arms and hands thoroughly. Moist skin becomes chapped readily which could lead to openings in the skin and potential infections.
• Use the paper towels you just finished drying with to turn the water off. This will help prevent you from picking up micro-organisms from the faucet handles.

SLEEP and REST...vital for good health

There are many factors that will run down the body, and make you feel tired. Stresses to the body can be physical, emotional or chemical. They can be caused from running a marathon, having a hard day with your boss at work, or even eating too much sugar.

When you feel tired or sleepy, that’s your intelligent body telling you what it needs. Pushing your limits by taking caffeine or other stimulants can cause the body to ultimately break down. Lack of seep increases the likelihood of many different illnesses because it lowers your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to colds, infections and disease.

In fact, sleep deprivation affects the body much like stress, including weight gain, increased cortisol levels, distorted thyroid hormone levels, and elevations in glucose and insulin.   Rest is necessary for renewed energy.When we are adequately rested, we concentrate better and improve our efficiency.

Resting is definitely not a time waster if it helps us be more focused and effective in what we do. Sleeping is not a time waster either. When we sleep, the body gets rid of waste products, circulates minerals, vitamins and hormones, and allows the body to naturally defend and repair itself from potential diseases.