The flu virus, H1N1, which emerged in April and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in June, remains a concern as NDSU begins the fall semester. The university community is particularly vulnerable to the virus based on the close proximity in which we operate. Proactive steps are very effective in limiting the spread of the virus, and we are asking all faculty, staff and students to take the following steps to protect themselves and others in the university community.
Wash your hands frequently.
This is particularly necessary after coughing or sneezing and before eating. Effective hand washing requires wetting your hands and cleansing them with soap for 20 seconds (this is the time it would take to sing "Happy Birthday" twice). When you cannot wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw out the tissue after one use and wash your hands. When a tissue is not available, cough into your elbow or upper arm (into clothing if possible). The goal is to keep germs off your hands and to protect others from being exposed to your germs.
Avoid touching your face.
By touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth, germs on your hands can spread to these areas.
Avoid touching commonly touched surfaces with your hands when possible.
Avoid touching areas that may contain germs from others’ hands. Obviously, this is difficult to do at times. The best way to deal with commonly touched surfaces that may contain germs is to wash your hands frequently and to avoid touching your face.
Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or have other flu symptoms.
The primary symptoms of flu are coughing, fever, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. To protect yourself from contracting the virus, exercise caution when dealing with others you believe are ill. Keeping a distance of six feet from the sick person is the best way to deal with this type of situation.
Call your medical provider if you are experiencing flu symptoms.
Medical facilities will have their hands full dealing with this virus. Call your medical provider if you have symptoms, and, based on your general health condition and current status, they will advise you whether you need to visit the doctor.
Stay home if you are sick.
If you have flu symptoms, stay home at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel warm, sweating, flushed appearance). This determination must be made without fever-reducing medications. If medication is still required to reduce the fever, stay home at least 24 hours after medication is no longer needed.
Get the seasonal flu vaccination when it becomes available.
The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you from the H1N1 virus, but it will protect your immune system from being compromised and more vulnerable from a bout with seasonal flu. The H1N1 immunization will not be available until mid-October at the earliest, and even then it will go to high-priority groups first. The immunization is a two-shot series that will not provide protection until about five weeks after the initial shot. You should not plan on receiving the H1N1 immunization prior to the end of the semester. The seasonal flu vaccination, however, will be available soon and will help protect you from other flu strains that could diminish your immune system and increase your vulnerability to H1N1.
A few other concerns with the H1N1 virus that may affect some staff are noted below:
• If you are pregnant, have heart disease, asthma or diabetes, you are more vulnerable to severe effects from this virus. Consult with your medical provider to determine what you should do in the event of a local outbreak that may affect you.
• While there are many whose areas of expertise may touch on this area of pandemic flu planning and response, staff and faculty are asked to refrain from sending out messages on their own through the faculty, staff or student listservs. Forward any information to Jolean Pederson, associate director of public health and safety, at jolean.pederson@ndsu.edu.
• If traveling, take note of the outbreak level in the area you are traveling to and the healthcare options available. Also be aware of the potential for other passengers who are in close proximity to spread germs.
• If you have care-taking responsibilities for another person if they become ill (for example, a child, parent and spouse), let your supervisor know so they can be prepared to accommodate your absence. Also, if you are caring for someone who is ill, be sure that you are not ill before returning to work.
• If you share a computer, other equipment or use common workspace areas, be aware of the potential for spreading germs. To avoid infection, use disinfectant wipes to clean the surfaces on phones, keyboards, copiers and other shared equipment, in addition to frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing. The virus can live for days on hard surfaces and one infected person can infect a whole office.
The University Police and Safety Office, in conjunction with the Ready Campus Initiative, is working with partners both on and off campus to ensure the NDSU community receives the information it needs to make informed decisions. A town hall meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Memorial Union Century Theater addressing how NDSU will manage the issues this novel virus presents. Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to attend.
To learn more about the H1N1 pandemic and steps you can take to protect yourself and family, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ informational Web page at www.flu.gov.