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Campus Update: Nov. 2

Flu Preparation/Prevention Message
from Health Center Director Jan Murray

To the Whitworth community:

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

We are in our eighth week of classes, and since the last report, on Oct. 5, we have continued to see a decrease in the number of students with flu-like illness. We reached a peak in mid-September, and numbers have gradually decreased since then. 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 to 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 80 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. Number of cases reported is currently at 15. 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. We currently have one student in self-isolation. We do realize that there may be mild cases we have not seen or students who have not reported to us.

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 percentage 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 actually is.

At no time were more than 1.5 percent of the campus student population in isolation; nor were there any areas of campus with significantly higher numbers than elsewhere. No one has been severely ill. Three students have gone to the emergency room for high fevers and dehydration.

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).

The health center has dispensed 300 seasonal influenza vaccinations. We are authorized by the Washington State Department of Health to be an H1N1 vaccine provider. As of today’s date, the health department is estimating that we will receive the vaccine in mid-November. Once we receive it, there will be an adequate supply for all who wish to receive it. 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 six months of age
People with a history of chronic illness
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
All people from six 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.

Further information on the CDC’s recommendations for addressing flu risks in higher education is is available at: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance /?s_cid=twflu37
I am happy to answer questions via email. 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