Official UIC H1N1 Update - October 23, 2009

 

This is an update on the H1N1 influenza virus and UIC’s preparations for the disease.

 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says Illinois is among 46 states with widespread influenza activity. The CDC also reports that visits to physicians for influenza-like illness (ILI) continue to increase in the United States, and overall are much higher than levels expected for this time of the year. Hospitalization rates for confirmed cases of flu also exceed average seasonal rates. Anecdotal information and laboratory data demonstrate that H1N1 is circulating at UIC but we do not at this time observe high levels.

 

To help combat the spread of flu, UIC requested 10,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine, compared with 4,500 administered last year. The campus has received 7,500 so far and all of these were administered free in late September and earlier this month to our students, faculty and staff. We have another 5,000 doses on order and as soon as they are available, notices will be sent to the UIC community.

 

The campus also has received 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine out of 120,000 ordered. We do not know for certain when we will receive the remaining doses. The government has established priorities for who should receive the H1N1 vaccines first, with healthcare workers and persons between the ages of six months and 24 years among the initial groups targeted for inoculation. The campus will follow federal protocols for administering the inoculations and the UIC community will be fully informed when the vaccine is more widely available.

 

We encourage everyone to read the recent updates posted on the Emergency Information page of the UIC Web site, particularly the 9/22 update on planning for flu-related absences.

 

We also encourage everyone to take preventive actions:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue into the trash after you use it. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow rather than into your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners may also be helpful.
• Wash your hands after using the bathroom. Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating and after handling shared objects such as pens, phones, and door knobs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses and germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

 

Flu symptoms include:

• fever
• chills
• bad headache
• sore throat
• bad cough
• body ache

 

If you do become sick with flu-like illness:

• Stay home as much as possible until your fever is gone for at least 24 hours, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your temperature should be normal without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. You should not go to class or eat in a dining hall, ride a bus or go to a public event.
• Due to the large population and close quarters of the residence halls, if you live in campus housing we recommend that you return to your permanent home to recover, if possible. If you must remain on campus, make arrangements for meals to be brought to your room. Dining Services will permit this.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to control fever, chills, headache and body aches.
• Get emergency care if you have the following symptoms: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; chest or abdominal pain or pressure; dizziness or confusion; severe or persistent vomiting.
• If you are ill, contact your family physician or the UIC Family Medicine Center at 312-996-2901.
• The government sets different standards for when hospital employees can return to work and these are being communicated directly to Medical Center employees.

 

Updated campus information on seasonal flu and H1N1 flu will continue to be distributed via Official mass e-mails and posted on the Emergency Information site. For more information on flu please visit the following Web sites:

 

www.uic.edu/index.html/flu.shtml

 

UIC Department of Family Medicine

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention