H1N1 Flu Information
Meredith College’s Incident Management Team is monitoring the H1N1 flu situation. This team is charged with planning the College’s response to emergencies and crisis situations. Any changes to Meredith’s schedule will be communicated on this web site and on Enews.
Flu Prevention Tips
The Meredith College Health Center recommends campus community members follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to prevent the spread of the H1N1 (swine-origin flu) virus.
- See your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis if you develop an acute febrile respiratory illness (temperature 100.4 degrees or greater, and recent onset of at least one of the following: runny or congested nose, sore throat, or cough) within seven days of close contact with a person who has H1N1 (swine-origin flu); or within seven days of travel to a community within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of swine-origin flu; or if you reside in a community where there are one or more confirmed cases of swine-origin flu.
- If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, go to the hospital, but if your symptoms are mild, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others at the hospital.
Remember that there are many illnesses with symptoms similar to influenza that are not influenza at all. For example, a common cold or allergies can cause nasal symptoms and cough. If you have any question about your diagnosis, contact your healthcare provider.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze (with a tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve). Discard tissue and wash hands after handling respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth.
- Remember that "FRIENDS DON'T COUGH ON FRIENDS."
- Wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer. (At Meredith’s dining hall, hand sanitizer is available for use. The hand sanitizer dispensers are on both walls of the food court as you exit into the dining rooms.)
- Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes.
- Stay away from school or work while ill and consider yourself contagious for seven days after onset of the illness.
- Masks may be recommended for health care workers, family members and others who come in close contact with swine flu patients, but there is no need for the general public to wear masks.
- Properly handled pork is safe to eat. Cook at least 160 degrees.
- Decontaminate shared items periodically, such as remote controls, refrigerator handles, and doorknobs, and do not share personal items, such as drinks. (Common household cleaners, such as bleach-containing cleaners, Lysol, or other cleaners, such as alcohol-based, should be effective.)
How to Keep From Getting Flu
- Stay away from sick people.
- Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after being out in public (handling grocery cart, money, using ATM machine, touching doors).
- Do not share personal items, such as drinks.
Some tips used by permission of NCSU Student Health Services.
Study Abroad Information
Leaders in the field of international education are monitoring the evolving H1N1 flu (swine-origin flu) outbreak, consulting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State Department, and various risk assessors in both public and private sectors. Meredith’s Office of International Programs receives regular updates containing both information and advice. All Meredith study abroad programs are currently going ahead as planned. The College does not have any study abroad programs in Mexico scheduled for this summer.
Please contact the Office of International Programs with concerns related to student international travel plans. The office can be reached via email at studyabroad@meredith.edu or by phone at (919) 760-2307.
North Carolina Pandemic Flu Preparedness
http://www.ncpanflu.gov
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FAQs
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
