The Centers for Disease Control has issued new recommendations. The primary emphasis is on limiting the contact of sick persons with others. These recommendations include urging individuals who are sick not to come to class. Indeed, if possible, they should go home, rather than remaining in on-campus housing.
The CDC anticipates that health-care providers may be overwhelmed with large numbers of calls or visits. As a result, they recommend that faculty not require a doctor’s note for an excused absence.
Our request to you is that you give careful consideration of the public health issues that are in play at this time. When possible, please be creative with opportunities to make up assignments or missed classes and weigh the use of disincentives for missing class with the public health needs of the campus as a whole. While this type of flu is not unusually severe, it does seem to have a disproportionate impact on individuals younger than 25, placing traditional age college students at greater risk.
As new alerts or information becomes available, we may send further updates.
Hygiene practices:
- Avoid close contact with people who appear to be sick or are known to be sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw the tissue in the trash. If no tissue is available, cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your arm.
- Wash your hands thoroughly often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work effectively as a temporary measure.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to reduce the spread of germs.
- Practice healthy behaviors, such as getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a nutritious diet.
- If you get sick with influenza, the CDC recommends that you stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Symptoms of the flu include:
- fever
- coughing
- sore throat
- chills
- lethargy
- lack of appetite
- Some people may also have a runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
If the number of cases or severity of the flu triggers the need for additional measures, you will be notified through the Eagle Alert system. Please be sure that you are able to receive such alerts and encourage your students to sign up for this service.
