MVCC CARES ABOUT YOU - Information on the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)
SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE:
- Fever or chills
- Cough or sore throat
- Runny nose
- Headache, body aches
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Avoid sharing eating and drinking utensils.
- Clean your living area - keyboards, faucet handles, remote controls, door knobs, etc.
- Hand sanitizer units are available throughout campus and in the Residence Halls
- Go to the Student Health Center, your own physician or notify your RA.
- Call home.
- If your family thinks you should - go home.
- If you cannot go home, stay in your room and follow the instructions of the Health Center
- CDC guidelines suggest that the vaccine be given to specific groups when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years and people between of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
- When the vaccine becomes available, it will be administered by the Oneida County Health Department and your own physician.
- Sodexo will work with the Residence Life staff to provide sick trays for delivery to you.
- Stay in your room for at least 24 hours or until you no longer have a fever without taking any fever medications. Signs of a fever are chills or sweating. Disposable thermometers are available from any Resident Director or from the Health Center.
- Notify your RA and the Health Center immediately.
- We will encourage and may require any ill student to return home.
- We will provide a mask if you are sharing a room with someone who is ill.
- You may wish to consider temporarily moving in with a friend until your room-mate recovers.
- The College does have a plan should we need to isolate ill students.
- Avoid social contacts, including large gatherings such as classes, athletic events, etc.
- Cough or sneeze into tissues and immediately dispose of the tissues.
- Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
- Contact the Health Center.
- Faculty are allowing legitimate absences due to the flu.
- You should notify your instructors immediately via email.
- For Health related issues, Anne Popeo - College Nurse 315-792-5683
- For all other questions, Denise DiGiorgio - VP Student Services 315-792-5456
FAMILY MEMBERS OF MVCC STUDENTS
- Reinforce the "avoid getting sick" protocols
- Reinforce all the information listed above
- Call or email if you sense your student is ill or if you are hearing of a room-mate/suite-mate illness
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the authority on flu-season advice and tracking the spread of the flu. They offer the most up-to-date resources on H1N1 and other influenza, and share advice that all students, faculty, staff, and their families should heed.
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ is CDC´s home page for H1N1. Their "Swine Flu and You" guide appears at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm.
You may also view vaccination advice and Three Steps to Fight the Flu.
They also offer several resources directed at colleges. MVCC has studied these resources and we plan to follow advice from CDC and the Oneida County Health Department if the flu threat increases.
