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Campus Update: Sept. 4

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 on Quick links.
www.whitworth.edu/Administration/Health&CounselingCenter/FluPreparation.htm

Since posting this webpage we have further updates to share regarding vaccines and care of those with flu-like illness. To date we have had no reported cases of flu-like illness among early arrivals, faculty or staff. Washington has had local outbreaks in certain areas, most recently at WSU.

Due to anticipated high levels of use at the Health Center by our students we will not be offering flu vaccine to staff and faculty. Employees who are at high risk due to chronic conditions should contact their primary care providers and follow their guidelines regarding vaccination. All other employees should also contact their primary care providers regarding availability.

The Health Center has asked to be a designated provider of H1N1 flu vaccine to our student population. This means that we will receive free H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available (we will charge an administration fee of $5 per vaccination). I am not sure of the number of doses that will be available to campus; nor do I know the exact date of delivery. I have requested enough vaccine to immunize all students under age 25 and all healthcare workers on campus including health center staff, medics and athletic trainers.

Hand sanitizer dispensers are already installed in residence halls, the HUB and a few other areas. We will be installing others in public areas around campus over the next few weeks. In addition, information will be posted on optimal cold-and-flu-season hygiene.

Each building on campus has a designated “Building monitor”. They have access to individual hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes for high-traffic areas. If you are not sure who your building monitor is, contact Marisha Hamm at ext. 4494. It is important that areas where items are regularly used by multiple people be wiped down with the disinfectant wipes after high traffic times.

If faculty and staff develop influenza like illness, remember that these CDC guidelines must be followed:

• Faculty, and staff with flu-like illness should be asked to self-isolate at home or at a friend’s or family member’s home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• For students, consider altering policies on missed classes and examinations and late assignments so that students’ academic concerns do not prevent them from staying home when ill or prompt them to return to class or take examinations while still symptomatic and potentially infectious.

Further information on Higher Ed recommendation by the CDC is available at:
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/?s_cid=tw_flu37

I am happy to answer questions via email. I may not get back to you right away, but I will respond.

Jan Murray RN M Ed
Health Center Director
Whitworth University
Phone 509.777.4449
Fax 509.777.3763