Please check this web site frequently for updates aimed at providing the Fitchburg State College community with the latest information on H1N1.
The college continues to await additional shipments of both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines. Given that there is no way to pinpoint arrival time or number of doses, those who want to be assured of receiving the vaccine should contact their primary care physicians or attend one of the many clinics that have been established.
H1N1 influenza—the swine flu—has been reported at dozens of college campuses across the country. We have been fortunate, thus far, to have seen only about 10 H1N1 cases, all of them of the mild variety.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu: fever, cough, runny nose, body aches, fatigue, headache, lack of appetite, and, in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.
What can you do to stay healthy
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you have sneezed or coughed (alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective at infection control).
Sneeze or cough into your sleeve, not into your hand.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Don’t share food or drinks.
Clean shared phone receivers.
Get adequate sleep, eat a healthy diet and continue to exercise to boost natural immunity.
(Experts do not recommend anything other than a normal cleaning schedule for classrooms and other buildings on campus.)
In order to contain any outbreak, please don’t come to work or attend classes if you have symptoms of the flu. Self-isolation has a major impact on limiting the spread of the illness.
Students who contract the flu should call Health Services to receive specific instructions based on their symptoms, or notify their RA, who will provide assistance.
There are a great variety of web sites devoted to H1N1. Below are a few of the more authoritative sites:
Health Services will be administering the vaccine in the traditional manner: students will be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated first, since many students cannot easily obtain the flu vaccine from their primary care provider.
Following that, we will be offering the vaccine to staff members if we are able to obtain enough doses. Both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are currently in short supply, and we cannot guarantee that we’ll receive enough to administer them to all members of the staff. To be assured of obtaining a flu vaccine, please contact your primary health care provider. In addition, many local pharmacies are offering flu clinics. If your insurance covers the cost of the flu vaccine, most pharmacies will charge your insurance company.
