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Campus Update: Oct. 5

Flu Preparation/Prevention Message from Health Center Director Jan Murray

To the Whitworth community:

We now have this website available on the Health Center website and in the Quick Links menu on the Whitworth home page:
www.whitworth.edu/Administration/Health&CounselingCenter/FluPreparation.htm

We are in our fourth week of classes and, as expected, have experienced a higher than normal number of students with respiratory symptoms; about half of these have been diagnosed with (influenza) or flu-like illness.  Whitworth, in conjunction with Spokane Regional Health District, has been planning for a flu outbreak.  In response to cases of flu-like illness that presented in the first week of classes, we instituted the initial policy and procedures to care for these students and prevent the spread of the virus to others.  We are also following CDC guidelines and updating our procedures as needed to be in line with their recommendations. 

Since Sept. 8, we have seen about 70 students with flu-like illness.  There have also been reports from students not seen in the health center who have been treated off campus or who have recovered without seeking medical care.  The number of these cases reported is currently at 10.  Some students have gone home to recuperate and some were in self-isolation on campus.  Recovery time is ranging from five to seven days. Students are released from self-isolation when they are fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medicine. 

In addition to flu-like illness, we have also seen students with respiratory infections that were much milder and were diagnosed as upper respiratory infection (URI) or “the common cold.”  The number of students with URIs is about the same % as any other year in proportion to the population. This illness can look very similar to flu-like illness so the number of flu cases may appear to be higher than it truly is.

At no time was there more than 1.5 percent of the campus student population in isolation, nor were there any areas of campus with significantly larger numbers than elsewhere.  No one has been severely ill.  Three students have gone to the emergency room for high fevers and dehydration.  The numbers peaked in mid-September and have slowly dropped, with very few cases reported in the last few days. 

Please be aware that the decrease in cases does not mean that this is over.  Influenza outbreaks typically come in waves and we are likely to see a more severe wave with the onset of colder weather.  Our cold and flu season typically lasts from November through March and people will be more susceptible during this period to all types of respiratory infections.

We encourage students to be vaccinated for both seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza and to continue to follow CDC guidelines for prevention outlined on the flu preparation website (www.whitworth.edu/Administration/Health&CounselingCenter /FluPreparation.htm).

Seasonal influenza vaccine ($15 charge) is available now at the health center to full-time students.  We are authorized by the Washington State Department of Health to be an H1N1 vaccine provider.  According to CDC guidelines, the H1N1 vaccine will be administered first to the following groups:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
• People with a history of chronic illness, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age, and
• Persons age 25 to 64 who have health conditions associated with higher-risk of medical complications from influenza.

Due to anticipated high levels of use at the health center by our students, we will not be able to offer flu vaccines to staff and faculty.  For staff and faculty, Group Health will be offering a seasonal influenza clinic in the HUB Chambers from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov.  3. There are still appointments available.  E-mail Melody Marksbury at mmarksbury@whitworth.edu for an appointment or any other questions about the Group Health seasonal flu vaccine clinic.

Further information on the CDC’s recommendations for addressing flu risks in higher education is available at the following site:
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/?s_cid=tw_flu37.

I am happy to answer questions via e-mail. I may not be able to get back to you right away, but I will respond.

Jan Murray, R.N., M. Ed.
Health Center Director
Whitworth University
Phone 509.777.4449
Fax 509.777.3763

For information on Whitworth’s preparations for H1N1, follow this link: www.whitworth.edu/Administration/Health&CounselingCenter/FluPreparation.htm