UA News

Campus Health will begin offering seasonal flu vaccinations next month and the H1N1 flu vaccine later this fall.

University of Arizona officials say they are prepared for the return of the H1N1 virus, which has begun appearing on college campuses across the country.

"If we all work together, we will have a better chance of reducing the impact of the H1N1 flu pandemic on those learning, living and working in the UA community," Dr. Harry McDermott, director of the Campus Health Service, said Thursday.

Appropriate provisions of the UA’s pandemic management plan, completed in 2008, are being implemented as students return to campus for the fall semester.

The UA’s current focus is on educating faculty and staff, as well as students and their parents, on what they can do to check the spread of the virus, and what they should do in the event they become ill.

Several respiratory virus infections are circulating on campus, McDermott said. While it's not unusual for the Campus Health Service to see students coming in with respiratory infection symptoms this time of year, it is unusual to see influenza, he said.

That led the Campus Health Service to activate the flu surveillance system and begin sending specimens to the Arizona State Laboratory for testing and confirmation.

Of 19 UA students tested for flu in the past week and a half, 13 tested positive for the H1N1 virus, an indication that the flu could be resurfacing on campus.

None of the students were hospitalized, McDermott said.

"All of the students coming down with this flu are having mild to moderate symptoms and are recovering completely just like last spring and over the summer," he said.

Even before learning of the confirmed cases, McDermott's division had begun sending students information on preventing and treating the flu, along with recommendations that those with symptoms should avoid contact with others.

Federal health officials have said they expect to see more H1N1 – or swine flu – cases with the start of the school season.

In light of that, Campus Health and members of the UA Campus Emergency Response Team spent the summer shoring up the the University's plan for responding to a pandemic flu outbreak.

Campus Health will begin offering the seasonal flu vaccine in September to students and employees and plans to offer the H1N1 vaccine, expected to be available in October or November, as well.

The seasonal flu vaccine will be available at the Campus Health Service starting in September, about a month earlier than usual. The seasonal flu vaccine costs $15.

"For at least the beginning if not most of the pandemic flu outbreak we will be relying on people who become ill with the flu to stay home to help reduce the spread of this virus," McDermott said.

To minimize the spread of the flu, students and employees are being asked to refrain from visiting Campus Health or other medical offices for flu treatment unless they are experiencing severe symptoms. They also are being asked to isolate themselves and stay home until they have been free of a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

"This type of action will reduce the chances that students will spread the flu to others on campus or where they live," McDermott said. 

Patients who visit the clinic and are coughing are being asked to wear masks. Also, the center's staff uses personal protective equipment when working with individuals who may have the virus. 

Campus Health strongly suggests the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for people with chronic illness, those who are regularly in contact with infants and toddlers, or who are pregnant. 

The center also is urging students who live in residence halls or Greek housing to consider getting the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. 

"By vaccinating yourself this fall, you can protect your health and the health of others before the holiday travel season," the health service noted in a memo to students.

McDermott said both Residence Life and Greek Life staff members have developed plans to aid students living on campus who develop the flu or who share living space with those who have the flu.

Those who come down with the flu are encouraged to inform their resident assistants and hall directors or Greek health advocates.

Common flu symptoms include a fever above 100 degrees, sore throat, sweats and chills, body aches, a painful cough, a runny nose and nausea. Flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly compared with cold symptoms, which come on more gradually and are not as severe.

To avoid getting the flu, health officials recommend frequent hand washing, keeping hands away from the face, getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

The UA experienced the first wave of the virus in the spring, after H1N1 already had been declared a global pandemic. Since that time, University officials have been updating the UA Pandemic Plan, which was created about three years ago. The plan outlines steps to be taken depending on the severity of an outbreak to protect the health of the campus community and minimize the pandemic's impact. 

Academic and nonacademic units have completed Continuity of Operations Plans, or COOPs, detailing how each would react should a pandemic occur. The COOPs are also part of campus preparedness efforts, which are coordinated by CERT.

Academic departments are being asked to accommodate students who will miss class because of the flu, relying on telephone, Internet and e-mail communication while they're out.

"If students become ill with the flu, it will be their responsibility to initiate and maintain communications with their instructors," McDermott noted.

Campus community members are encouraged to sign up for UAlert, the University's emergency text messaging service, which is used to disseminate information in the event of a crisis.

More UA-related information on the flu can be found at these Web sites:

• Life & Work Connections
• Campus Health Service

Additional H1N1 virus resources:

• Pima County Health Department
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Arizona Department of Health Services
• Flu.gov
• What To Do if You Get Flu-Like Symptoms