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TCC Preparedness: H1N1 Flu Information Update #3 for employees: October 13, 2009
Colleagues:
I write to provide an update on the H1N1 flu situation as it relates to TCC, to reiterate the guidance with respect to reporting potential H1N1 cases, and to publish links to Frequently Asked Questions we have recently posted to our H1N1 website.
Current Situation
Since mid-September, 25 students and 15 employees have missed class and/or work as a result of self-reported illness that may be the flu – we have no confirmation of any of the cases – in each category, about half of those who have been sick are back in class and/or at work. We are not aware of any students or employees who have been hospitalized as a result of their illnesses. To give you a sense of the scale of these numbers, more than 30,300 students are enrolled in TCC’s Fall semester, and we have some 2,400 employees, including adjunct faculty.
As you know, during the week of September 28, the college hosted seasonal flu vaccination clinics on each of the campuses and at the Visual Arts and Regional Automotive centers. If you have not been vaccinated against the seasonal flu, please note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the “seasonal flu season” runs from November through April in the United States and the “annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will transmit to others.”
We expect to be able to host similar vaccination clinics for H1N1 flu when our provider has received sufficient vaccine doses. In the interim, if you are in one of the priority groups for H1N1 vaccination, you should consult with your health care provider about being vaccinated. The priority groups are:
- pregnant women;
- household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age;
- healthcare and emergency medical services personnel;
- all people from 6 months through 24 years of age; and
- persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
The guidance regarding prevention, care for sick individuals, and returning to work or classroom settings remains as stated in previous updates. 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 seasonal flu is available through health care providers and participating pharmacies – see the Virginia Department of Human Resources website for a listing of the pharmacies for your health plan. H1N1 flu vaccine is being distributed to providers – 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.
For additional information on various aspects of the flu, please refer to www.flu.gov or http://www.cdc.gov/flu. And for information specific to the flu in Virginia, refer to the Virginia Department of Health website.
Frequently Asked Questions
The college has posted “FAQs” and answers for students, teaching faculty, and employees (including teaching faculty) on our H1N1 website.
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 operations by reporting any cases of flu-like illness 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. Further updates and additional guidance will be provided as the situation warrants. The college’s H1N1 flu website 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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