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TCC Preparedness: H1N1 Flu Information Update #2 for employees: September 15, 2009
Colleagues:
I write to provide an update on the H1N1 flu situation as it relates to TCC and guidance with respect to reporting potential H1N1 cases.
Current Situation
As of this morning, the college is aware of a single, self-reported, unconfirmed case of H1N1 flu in a student who attends part-time at the Norfolk Campus. That student reports being at home with family, recuperating. The student reported the situation on Monday, September 14, and had not been on campus since last week.
The college has established relationships with the Public Health departments in the localities we serve, and we have consulted with the appropriate office regarding this reported case.
The guidance regarding prevention, care for sick individuals, and returning to work or classroom settings remains as stated in the August 25 update. Put very simply (with appreciation to the University of Virginia for this succinct rendition):
Prevention
- Wash your hands, often and well, with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel or wipes when there is no water.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes, then throw the tissue away and wash or sanitize your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Eat well, stay hydrated, rest, exercise, and follow good-health guidelines.
- Vaccine for the seasonal flu will be available on campus during the week of September 28 -- information is available on the Human Resources website. Vaccine for H1N1 flu will be available later in the fall – watch for announcements.
Treatment
- Know the flu symptoms – fever, headache, chills, body aches, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and occasionally nausea or diarrhea.
- If you have these symptoms, stay home, rest, and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Don’t smoke.
- Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen and, for adults, aspirin may reduce aches and fever.
- Decongestants, cough medicines, and a humidifier may also help.
- Call your doctor.
Recovery
- When you have been off fever-reducing medicine such as aspirin and fever-free for 24 hours, you may go back to your normal activities.
Reporting Guidance
TCC continues to take measures to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and to prepare for conditions that may result should it have a significant impact on our operations as delineated in the August 25 update.
You can help in this effort by continuing to practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. You can assist the college in understanding the potential impact of the H1N1 flu on our operationsby reporting any cases of the flu among students or employees of which you become aware according to the following guidance:
Students – in the event that a student reports that s/he will be absent due to the flu, do the following:
- Encourage the student to follow the care guidance and precautions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
- Advise the student to not return to the class until s/he has been free of fever (100°F) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Ask the student whether the diagnosis has been made or confirmed by a medical provider.
- Report the student’s case to your respective Campus Provost, who will report it to the Director of Emergency Preparedness.
Employees – in the event that you become ill with the flu, do the following:
- Advise your supervisor that you will not be at work due to the flu – include whether the diagnosis has been made or confirmed by a medical provider.
- Follow the care guidance and precautions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
- Remain at home – except to seek required medical care – until at least 24 hours have passed since you have been free of fever (100°F) or signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Supervisors who are advised of an employee becoming sick with flu are to report that information up the administrative chain of command to the respective member of the President’s Executive Staff, who will report it to the Director of Emergency Preparedness.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in this matter. Updates and additional guidance will be provided periodically and as the situation warrants – though we do not intend to report individual cases as they occur. The college has established an H1N1 flu website which will be the repository for these updates and other information as well as links to other agencies’ information.
Regards,
Frank Dunn
Vice President for Administration
Tidewater Community College
121 College Place
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