Health Center

H1N1 (swine) Influenza

H1N1 Flu FAQs

For the most up to date information:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm100139.htm

The Health Center will be doing seasonal flu vaccinations - keep an eye on this website and also we will advertise on Intercom. We are working with Tompkins County Health Department and other resources to keep our information up to date.

What are the symptoms of H1N1?

The symptoms of H1N1 are often relatively mild, and include fever greater than >100F plus some combination of headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and somtimes nausea, and diarrhea.

What can I do to avoid getting sick?

Personal health measures are a critical line of defense against flu (as well as many other viruses and bacteria).

Personal Prevention: Your health is in your own two (clean!) hands, so follow this flu prevention advice from health experts.

 

What should I do if I'm sick?

  • Keep your distance from people who are already ill, 6 feet or more whenever possible.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or a waterless hand cleaner.
  • Keep surfaces that you frequently touch as clean as possible.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Get a flu shot. The college is offering free seasonal flu vaccine to all students starting next week. Times and locations will be posted at www.ithaca.edu/SACL/healthcenter/H1N1flu. We will notify you when the H1N1 vaccine, and guidelines for its use, are available.

What should I do if I develop flu-like symptoms?

Try to stay away from others, termed "self-isolation". If you live close enough, go home until your temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours. If you live in a single, remain there as much as possible. Give a close friend your ID so they can bring you take-out meals from Dining. Ask your RA about meal tickets and how they can assist you with your dining needs. If you have roommates, try to stay 6 feet away from them or, when that is not possible, wear a surgical mask. Masks are available at the health center and through your RA's free of charge.

It is important that you remain out of classes until your temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours while off any fever-reducing medicine, in order to limit spread. Notify your professors by email or phone, and they will tell you what you need to do in order to complete missed work.

Report your symptoms of flu symptoms through the H1N1 portlet on myhome.ithaca.edu.

Call the Hammond Health Center at 607-274-3177 if you have questions about your symptoms. If you are more seriously ill, i.e. high fever, dehydration, other symptoms unconnected with flu, fever with skin rash, etc. we will want to see you right away, but otherwise it is better for you to just stay out of circulation until your temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

If I'm ill will I be tested for flu? Not likely. Why? Our health center follows established public health guidelines, and because H1N1 is already circulating in Tompkins County and Ithaca, our local and state health departments assume most people now contracting the flu have H1N1. They do not recommend routine testing to verify the type. (They will recommend testing for people hospitalized with an influenza-like illness and those at high risk. They may also recommend testing individuals who are part of a new outbreak within a camp, day care, or other congregate setting.)

If I have flu will I be treated? H1N1 flu in young, otherwise healthy individuals is not being treated with antiviral medication. Acetominophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen will alleviate some of the symptoms; cough medicine, steam, and rest are helpful.

The Health Center is activating a web portlet on IC MyHome that will allow you to notify us of your illness and allow us to stay in touch with you.

If you are pregnant or have asthma, other chronic lung diseases, heart disease, immune suppression, or diabetes, you may be at risk of more severe disease. It might be important for you to be treated with Tamiflu. Contact the health center or your private physician.

Know that if you do get sick, with the flu or any other illness, we're here to help. Ithaca College Hammond Health Center hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 11pm and Saturday/Sunday hours are 10am to 6pm. Please call us at (607) 274-3177 with questions or concerns or to make an appointment.

     *Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue 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.
     *Wipe down/clean shared surfaces (doorknobs, keyboards, phones, etc.) with disinfectant.
     *Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
     *If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
     *Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
     *Get a seasonal flu vaccine.
     *Eat a balanced diet.
     *Exercise on a regular basis and get plenty of rest.

 

Prepare a Flu Kit: Most individuals who develop flu symptoms can recover at home with little or no medical intervention. However, appropriate self-care is important. We encourage all members of our living and learning communities to prepare a health kit for self-care during the flu season. (You can also purchase a Flu Kit at the Health Center medication room)
     Contents should include:
        -a digital thermometer
        -acetaminophen or ibuprofen 
        -decongestants
        -cough drops and/or cough syrup
        -tissues
        -alcohol-based hand cleaner
        -face masks in case leaving your recovery space becomes unavoidable (for medical care, etc.) or if close contact with an ill individual is unavoidable in a living situation.