November 1, 2009
From the Dean of Student Affairs:
Nov. 20 Flu Health Advisory Update
The York College Health Center (HC) continues to treat about 5 students per day who are experiencing flu-like symptoms; 24 students for this current week. When students have serious flu-like symptoms (as diagnosed by the Health Center) they are asked to stay in ‘isolation’ until they recover (150 students this semester). The HC reports that there have been several confirmed H1N1 student cases this semester, and more cases continue to surface.
An H1N1 vaccine clinic was held on campus on Dec. 1 for students age 24 and under. Watch the website for upcoming H1N1 vaccination clinics for faculty, staff and other priority groups. Additional information is available on the Health Center webpage.
Flu Prevention and Personal Hygiene
We continue to encourage everyone to be conscientious with their personal hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of illness. These practices include: frequent and thorough hand washing; coughing or sneezing into one’s arm or a tissue and then washing hands; throwing away tissues; staying away from class or work if feeling ill; and seeking medical attention early. All of the dining halls and the fitness facilities on campus have in place hand sanitizers. Please make every effort to prevent or reduce the spread of the flu by using good health practices.
York College Action Plan
As concerns over the spread of H1N1 continue at colleges and universities across the nation, I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know the steps that York College is taking to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.
• We have placed desk and hand sanitizers throughout the campus community.
• Cold and flu kits have been assembled for distribution to students.
• Educational posters and continuing health reminders on preventing the spread of H1N1 (including those that promote cough etiquette and hand-washing) are hung in various locations.
• We are hosting seasonal flu immunization clinics on campus on Oct. 6 and Nov. 4.
• Free immunization clinics in the area are being advertised to students.
• Cleaning products are being provided to students to assist them with keeping their living spaces safe and clean.
• Additional custodial services are being scheduled across campus.
• We are working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to make the H1N1 vaccine available to our students as soon as possible.
• York College is a Sentinel flu site; we send monthly data to CDC to monitor flu occurrences.
We continue to monitor the campus situation as well as information and guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control. We are also employing best practices established particularly for higher education, in addition to working on appropriate contingency planning.
At this time, students who are ill are being advised not to go to class and to visit the Health Center or their primary care physician. Students whose symptoms are deemed indicative of H1N1 by either the Health Center physician or their primary care physician are being sent home to recover. They should not return to campus until they have not experienced a fever for at least 24 hours.
While we do intend at this time to continue to hold classes throughout the fall semester, we realize that there may be more student absences due to H1N1. Our student services personnel will work closely with students to ensure their needs are met.
Preventative Measures
As most of you know, the flu can be easily transmitted from person to person. We are asking everyone in the campus community to make every effort to prevent or reduce the spread of the flu by using good health practices and preventative measures:
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough/sneeze into your elbow if a tissue is not available. Wash your hands afterward.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact (i.e.: being within 6 feet) with persons with influenza-like illness (ILI).
• Get vaccinated.
• Practice good health habits: get adequate sleep, eat nutritious food, keep physically active.
• If you are sick with influenza-like illness (ILI) (fever plus at least cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea) you should stay at home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medications.)
• If you are sick with influenza-like illness, please do not go to class or work. Please call the Health Center immediately at (717) 849-1615 option 3 or contact your primary care physician.
For More Information
Additional information is available at the following websites:
• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• flu.gov
• York College Health Services