  |
|
|
H1N1 Information
Updates
FAQs
Prevention
Symptoms
Student Absences
Messages to Campus
Safety Homepage
Related Links
H1N1 Virus
(Swine Flu) and You
(Centers for Disease Control)
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Resources for Child Care Programs, Schools, Colleges, and Universities
(Centers for Disease Control)
Influenza A(H1N1): Special Information
(World Health Organization)
flula.com
(Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals)
Travel Advisories
(U.S. Department of State)
Swine Flu May Not Close College Classrooms: CDC
(U.S. News & World Report, August 20, 2009)
Contact Information
Program these and other key phone numbers into cell phones now, before a potential emergency situation occurs.
- LSU Police Department
225-578-3231 - Baton Rouge Fire
Department
225-354-1400 - Baton Rouge Police
225-389-2000 - East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office
225-389-5000 - Louisiana State Police
225-925-6325 or *LSP from any cell phone - Additional Emergency
Contacts
News and Media
Last updated: 11/19/2009 12:41 PM
Update on H1N1 vaccine
11/19/09, 12:23 p.m.
LSU officials are still waiting to receive the H1N1 vaccine from the federal government. As soon as the university receives its initial allotment of the vaccine, students, faculty and staff will be notified via broadcast e-mail and the LSU Web site. At that time, instructions will be provided as to where and when the LSU community will be able to receive the vaccination, as well as any costs that may be associated with receiving the vaccine.
Currently, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals recommends that the initial vaccinations be given to higher-risk target groups, such as:
- Pregnant women
- Those who live with or provide care for infants younger than six months
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- People from 6 months to 24 years of age
- People ages 25-64 who have certain medical conditions that predispose them to more severe illness, such as diabetes, asthma, heart/lung disease, etc.
For more information on H1N1, visit the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov and the Louisiana DHH Web site at www.fighttheflula.com.
Seasonal Flu Shots
10/10/09, 2:26 p.m.
Seasonal flu shots* will be given at the Student Health Center Monday, October 19 - Friday, October 23 from 9:00 am to 3:30 p.m., while supplies last.
The fee is $10 for LSU students and $20 for LSU faculty, staff and retirees. We accept cash or check for payment. Make checks payable to the LSU Student Health Center. Please bring exact change and wear short sleeves to expedite the process.
For more information, call 578-6271.
* The shot does not provide protection from the H1N1 virus or the swine flu.
Flu Update
9/28/09, 12:15 p.m.
As we head into flu season, the University is continuing to closely monitor both H1N1 and seasonal flu on the LSU campus.
The LSU Student Health Center will be offering seasonal flu shots to students, faculty, and staff from Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23, while supplies last. The shots will cost $10 for students, and $20 for faculty and staff, and all are advised to bring exact change and wear short sleeves to expedite the process.
While the seasonal flu shot does not protect against the H1N1 virus, we anticipate a vaccination for H1N1 will be made available before the end of the year. At that time, we will release details through student media, broadcast emails, and www.LSU.edu with information on how and when the vaccination will be offered to the LSU community.
As students, faculty, and staff leave to enjoy their fall holiday, we would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that personal responsibility is the first line of defense against Influenza.
There are a number of steps people can take to lower the risk of infection from, and spread of, the Influenza virus. These steps include:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If diagnosed with any type of flu, stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit contact with others.
If students experience flu-like symptoms they are advised to call the LSU Student Health Center at 225-578-6271. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider.
Members of the LSU community who contract Influenza A and/or H1N1 should stay home until they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. The LSU Student Health Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m. (medical clinic and pharmacy only).
For additional information, please visit www.lsu.edu/safety.
The LSU Emergency Operations Center
Flu Prevention Videos
9/22/09, 12:45 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently posted educational videos on flu prevention to the HHS YouTube Channel. Here are two of the videos featured on the channel.
H1N1 Rap by Dr. John D. Clarke
Simply Fighting the Flu Virus
Broadcast E-mail - Guidance for Students
8/25/09, 3:52 p.m.
As recent concern over Type A Influenza has been expressed, LSU wishes to provide guidance to those students impacted by this illness. While there is no cause for panic or fear, the University believes the best way to combat the spread of Influenza is through education and information.
Guidance for students diagnosed with Type A Influenza
- Refer to the University’s policy relevant to class absences, PS-22 Student Absence from Class.
- You should make arrangements as if you will be absent for at least one week of classes. This means coordinating note takers and keeping in contact with your professors.
- Email each of your professors indicating your diagnosis and the date on which you tested positive. (Email addresses may be found by logging in to PAWS and clicking on Directory Information.) In the email, you may ask each professor if he/she can assist in acquiring a volunteer note taker in each class. It will be your responsibility to contact the note taker.
- Review your course syllabi so you are aware of the make-up policy for each class. You should follow-up with each professor when you are able to resume your class schedule to discuss missed assignments and missed instruction.
- In addition to contacting your professors, it is suggested that you also inform your academic dean’s office. Staff members may be able to provide additional support and direction to affected students.
Should you experience undue hardship in contacting your professors or receive negative feedback regarding missed classes, please contact Jennie Stewart, Assistant Director/C.A.R.E. Manager in the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability at jstewart@lsu.edu or 225-578-5969.
Guidance for students experiencing flu-like symptoms
Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact the LSU Student Health Center at 225-578-6271. The Student Health Center is open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (medical clinics and pharmacy only).
As preventive measures, please make sure to follow the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after use.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If diagnosed with any type of flu, stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit contact with others.
LSU continues to take a proactive approach by monitoring the situation through the Emergency Operations Center. Additionally, the Student Health Center is prepared to provide medical treatment to students in need of assistance. For additional information and updates, please visit www.lsu.edu/h1n1.
Message to Campus Community from LSU Chancellor Mike Martin
8/21/09, 11:40 a.m.
As you may know, a group of LSU students were recently diagnosed with Influenza A. At this time of the year, a case of Influenza A is presumed to be caused by the H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu. While the flu is not a cause for panic or fear, it is certainly a reminder to us all that we should take precautions to try to stay healthy. As students, faculty, and staff return to campus for the start of the fall semester, I want to advise everyone that personal responsibility is the first line of defense against the virus. I also want you to know that the Student Health Center is prepared to medically treat students who need assistance and LSU’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is monitoring the situation.
At this time, we do not anticipate that the flu will cause any interruption in class schedules, LSU events, or services provided by the university. Classroom and work-place exposure to the flu is only significant if one has had close, face-to-face contact with the ill person in the 24 hours before they developed flu-like symptoms. Anyone who is well, but has a roommate or family member at home diagnosed with the flu, can attend class or work as usual, but should contact their health-care provider for advice concerning the possible use of preventative medication.
As we prepare for the beginning of a new academic year, I want to remind everyone to take precautions against all types of flu and viruses by following the CDC’s guidelines:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If diagnosed with any type of flu, stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit contact with others.
This is important for you to remember: For most people who contract Influenza A and/or H1N1, the illness has been mild as compared to traditional seasonal flu. According to medical sources, influenza viruses are primarily spread through coughing or sneezing. A person may also become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it, then touching their mouth or nose, as studies have shown that influenza virus can survive for up to 2-8 hours on environmental surfaces, such as books, doorknobs, keyboards, phones and ipods.
If students experience flu-like symptoms they are asked to call the LSU Student Health Center at 225-578-6271. Faculty and staff should contact their primary-care provider.
It is recommended by medical personnel that members of the LSU community who contract Influenza A and/or H1N1 stay at home for 7 days after their symptoms began, or until they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
The LSU Student Health Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (medical clinics and pharmacy only).
For additional information and updates on the flu, please visit www.lsu.edu/safety/ERP/influenza.shtml.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy semester,
Mike Martin
Swine Flu May Not Close College Classrooms: CDC
8/21/09, 9:50 a.m.
Posted August 20, 2009, US News & World Report
By Steve Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Unless the swine flu outbreak this fall is worse than expected, U.S. colleges and other post-secondary education centers may not need to cancel classes, federal health officials said in a new advisory issued Thursday.
Outlined at an afternoon press conference, the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies follows similar recommendations for U.S. schools and businesses.
Above all, campus administrators need to remain flexible as the fall/winter flu season approaches, because the extent and severity of the swine flu outbreak remains uncertain, experts said.
"The guidance we are releasing today explains the steps universities should take to treat students who contract H1N1 and steps to prevent the spread of the virus in a campus," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said at the news conference. "Much of it is common sense."
"We are encouraging students to clean commonly used items in their dorm rooms, such as doorknobs, keyboards and remote controls," Duncan said. "We are asking maintenance staff to redouble their efforts to clean surfaces such as sinks, elevator buttons and classroom desks. Ill students need to stay in their dorm rooms until they are free of fever for at least 24 hours. They should ask a friend or roommate to care for them by bringing in meals and medications."
According to the CDC, more communities may be affected by both the H1N1 swine flu <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/20/swine-flu-may-not-close-college-classrooms-cdc.html> and the seasonal flu in coming months than last spring, and every post-secondary institution needs to have a swine flu action plan in place.
Some of the key points for students and staff:
- Colleges should encourage good flu-preventive hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces, and "coughing etiquette," such as covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue or a sleeve.
- Urge students and staff to get a flu shot once they become available, especially higher-risk individuals, such as pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions such as asthma or diabetes <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/20/swine-flu-may-not-close-college-classrooms-cdc.html> .
- If students do get sick, "self-isolation" is key. Ideally, students who live in dorm-type housing should, if they can, return to the family home for the duration of their illness <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/20/swine-flu-may-not-close-college-classrooms-cdc.html> (using a taxi or private vehicle). If they cannot, they should refrain from close contact with other students, relying on phone, e-mail, texting and the Internet to keep up with schoolwork and family and friends.
- In some cases, a "flu buddy" system might be helpful -- students pair up to exclusively care for each other if one becomes ill. Individuals should leave isolation only after 24 hours have passed without fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicines).
- Students or staff should not require a doctor's note to prove they are ill, since such requirements could swamp already overburdened clinics, the CDC said.
"The recommendations aren't a big change from what we have seen from the New York Department Health and Hygiene," said Kathryn Hutchinson, executive director of student wellness at St. Johns University in New York City.
"We are focusing on patient education," Hutchinson said. "Getting students to recognize that they have to pay attention to the disease <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/20/swine-flu-may-not-close-college-classrooms-cdc.html> and engage in regular and frequent hand washing, they need to pay attention to cough etiquette and if they have any symptoms they can contact student health services. They should not come to school ill, or if they are a resident student they shouldn't go to class," she said.
"We have self-isolation guidelines if students cannot get home," Hutchinson said.
If the H1N1 swine flu became more severe than expected, additional precautions might be advised, the CDC said. This could include keeping sick students and staff home for a full week after symptoms clear up. And it might also involve implementing a "6-foot rule," asking people to maintain that distance from others to help avoid transmission of the virus.
Classes could be suspended if the H1N1 season proves particularly severe, and such decisions should include other mass gatherings such as sporting events and even commencement ceremonies, the CDC said.
LSU students diagnosed with influenza
8/15/09, 9:17 p.m.
Several LSU students on campus for the start of sorority recruitment have been diagnosed with Type A Influenza, suffering from mild to moderate symptoms of the virus, the university announced Saturday.
The illnesses of the affected students were not considered severe enough to impact the schedule for sorority recruiting on the LSU campus, which began on Saturday.
Approximately 20 students were diagnosed with influenza during the past week and were advised to remain at home for at least seven days after the first signs of the illness or until 24 hours had passed with no symptoms of the illness, per recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Protection.
Routine tests for H1N1 virus are no longer being conducted by state and federal agencies. However, it is presumed that any Influenza A circulating at this time of the year is the H1N1 virus.
The university delivered an e-mail Friday evening to students on campus for sorority recruitment to take routine precautions to avoid and reduce the spread of illness, such as covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, cleaning hands with soap and water and cleaning frequently used surfaces such as books, counters, desks, doorknobs and keyboards.
For the convenience of students, the LSU Student Health Center announced special weekend hours of 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday with normal hours resuming on Monday.
LSU EOC offers back-to-school flu prevention tips
8/14/09, 4:05 p.m.
As students prepare to head back to school for the fall semester, the LSU Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, reminds the campus community to continue taking the following precautions to help stay healthy and avoid contracting the flu:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
If you experience flu like symptoms, students are reminded that they can visit the LSU Student Health Center. Appointments can be made by calling 225-578-6716. Faculty and staff should contact their personal physician.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are diagnosed with any type of flu, you should stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Anyone who is planning international travel should check with the U.S. Department of State for the most up-to-date travel advisories.
For more information on the swine flu and how you can protect yourself from getting sick, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm or the World Health Organization Web site at www.who.int/en/.
LSU will post any updates on the situation to the university’s homepage at www.lsu.edu.
One confirmed case of H1N1 virus in an LSU student living off-campus
7/13/09, 9:40 a.m.
The University has received confirmation of its first case of the H1N1 virus. The confirmed case is a student living off-campus and is currently recovering. The University remains open and all operations, classes, summer camps and events are continuing as normal. For updates, please continue to check this Web page. As of July 2, 2009, Louisiana has 183 confirmed cases of "swine flu," 34 of which are in East Baton Rouge Parish. In May, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, or DHH, stopped daily announcements of new or suspected swine flu cases but still regularly updates case counts. The University is carefully tracking cases of flu among the campus community, and asks LSU students, faculty and staff to continue taking precautions against all types of flu.
The LSU Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, reminds the campus community to continue taking the following precautions to stay healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
If you experience flu like symptoms, students are reminded that they can visit the LSU Student Health Center. Appointments can be made by calling 225-578-6716. Faculty and staff should contact their personal physician.
The campus community should continue to monitor this Web page for updates concerning the H1N1 virus.
LSU continues to be diligent about encouraging the LSU community to practice good hygiene
5/11/09, 12:15 PM
While there have been no reported cases of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) on the LSU campus, the EOC reminds the LSU community to continue taking precautions.
Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the EOC asks the LSU community to take the following precautions to stay healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
If you experience flu like symptoms, students are reminded that they can visit the LSU Student Health Center. Appointments can be made by calling 225-578-6716. Faculty and staff should contact their personal physician.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are diagnosed with any type of flu, you should stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Swine Flu: Information for the LSU community
4/27/09, 3:58 PM
The United States on Sunday, April 26, 2009 declared a national public health emergency as the number of reported human cases of swine flu in the United States increased. As such, the LSU Emergency Operations Center is monitoring the situation, and is in contact with local and state public health officials.
While there have been no reported cases of swine flu on the LSU campus, the EOC is asking that members of the LSU community take precautions.
Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the EOC asks the LSU community to take the following precautions to stay healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
If you experience flu like symptoms, students are reminded that they can visit the LSU Student Health Center. Appointments can be made by calling 225-578-6716. Faculty and staff should contact their personal physician.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are diagnosed with any type of flu, you should stay home from work or school, if possible, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Anyone who is planning international travel should check with the U.S. Department of State for the most up-to-date travel advisories.
For more information on the swine flu and how you can protect yourself from getting sick, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm or the World Health Organization Web site at www.who.int/en/.
LSU will post any updates on the situation to the university’s homepage at www.lsu.edu.
