Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community

Seasonal Flu

• Symptoms of the common flu
• How flu spreads
• How to prevent the flu
• When to seek medical attention

Symptoms of the common flu

Is it a cold or is it the flu? Viruses cause both colds and flu. The flu virus affects your upper respiratory system. This includes your nose, throat, and lungs. “Stomach flu” is not influenza, but rather stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc., caused by a virus in the stomach and intestines. Colds are Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs) that cause inflammation of the membranes in the nose and throat, usually lasting 10-14 days, but possibly longer.

Symptoms of the flu are:

• Fever (up to 104 degrees) and sweating/chills
• Headache, muscle aches and/or stiffness
• Shortness of breath

How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets dispersed by coughing and sneezing. They usually spread from close person-to-person contact, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can live for as long as two hours on surfaces like doorknobs, desks and tables.

Healthy adults, infected with the virus, may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

How to prevent the flu

While avian flu is not a risk to you at this time, there are several things you can do to keep from getting seasonal flu:

Get a flu shot

UHS offers flu shots to Princeton faculty, staff and students at a reduced cost every fall. Even though getting a flu shot will not completely eliminate your chances of developing the flu, it will certainly reduce the risk. Each year, a new vaccine made from inactivated (killed) influenza viruses is formulated. Since it may take the immune system time to respond to the vaccination, the inactivated vaccine should be given 6 to 8 weeks before flu season begins in order to prevent infection or reduce the severity of the illness.

Wash your hands often

It is rare to catch a cold virus through the air – most transmission occurs via hand-to-hand contact.

Other tips to prevent colds, flu, and other illnesses:

• Wash your hands often (which is good advice for keeping healthy in any situation). Keep them away from your nose, eyes, and mouth. Use an waterless hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands.
• Sneeze or cough into a sleeve or tissue, not your hand.
• Stay away from others if you are sick. Don't go to class or work.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Get regular exercise and eat well.
• Follow good sleep habits.

When to seek medical attention

If any problem is causing you discomfort, you should absolutely see your personal doctor. Students may visit the walk-in clinic or schedule an appointment with a clinician at UHS. Make sure to seek medical attention if you have a fever of 102 degrees or greater (which may indicate a more serious infection), a persisting cough, especially with a significant fever (which could indicate pneumonia), a persistent sore throat (especially if runny nose does not develop - which could indicate a strep infection), or any cold lasting more than 10 days.

For More Information

See the University Health Services website for more information about the flu and other medical issues.

See Pandemic Influenza for information about pandemic flu and avian (bird) flu.

©2006 The Trustees of Princeton University. Last modified 19-Apr-2006 15:16 by Robin M. Izzo