Dear Parent,

There has been much written regarding the new novel HINI, Swine Flu. Please know that we, at The University of Mississippi,, have planned to do what we can to provide students with the information that he/she needs about this illness and that we are prepared.

Since June, we have had an occasional student with novel H1N1 (Swine Flu) seen in the Student Health Center. The CDC and Mississippi State Health Department are anticipating a significant number of new cases in the fall and have advised us to plan for the possibility of more cases. At the present time, there is not a vaccine available for the Swine Flu, and it is not anticipated that there will be sufficient vaccine developed this year to vaccinate college age student who are not chronically ill. In normally health individuals, there are 1-7 days of flu like symptoms and then recovery. The individual is usually contagious one day before symptoms develop. If your student has a chronic illness such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or immunosuppressed by medication or HIV, and becomes ill with a flu like illness he should be seen by a Health Care Provider. It is recommended that chronically ill individuals receive antiviral medications if they contract or are exposed to the flu.

Our plans are to provide students with information about protective hygiene with posters, flyers, e-mail and newspaper. If they become ill with flu like symptoms, they should minimize contact with others (self isolating themselves), including avoiding common carriers if traveling, not going to work or school (students should stay at home or in their dorm room until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever reducing medicine). The CDC states that individuals with the flu may be contagious for 7 days even if they feel better before then. It will be necessary for a friend to bring liquids and food to the dorm or apartment to prevent exposure to others. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Aleve should be used according to dosage guides on bottles for fever or headache, if the student is not allergic to the medication. DO NOT USE ASPIRIN!

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:

• Send hand sanitizer, tissues, thermometer, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Aleve and encourage their use.
• Learn about H1N1 and seasonal Flu by visiting the CDC website www.flu.gov , www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
• Encourage your student to notify by e-mail their Professors and the Dean of Students Office if they are out with the flu.
• Encourage seasonal influenza vaccination, which will be given in October.

Barbara Collier, APRN, FNP-BC

Director University Health Services

bcollier@olemiss.edu