Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community

H1N1 Influenza

February 5, 2010 E-Mail to Campus Community

To: Princeton students, faculty and staff
From: University Health Services
Date: Feb. 5, 2010
Re: UPDATE on H1N1 Flu Guidelines

In light of the sharp decline in recent weeks of influenza-like activity on campus and nationwide, University Health Services has decided to return to its routine standards of care and suspend some of the flu directives for students adopted last fall.

While in general, faculty and staff should continue to follow previous guidelines if diagnosed with flu-like illness, there are important updates about flu guidelines for students. This e-mail contains the new processes for students, as well as information about continuing flu guidelines for faculty and staff.

Student Guidelines

--In-person medical evaluation at UHS. Most importantly, UHS has suspended the directive that students with flu-like symptoms should call UHS for medical evaluation by phone. All students with flu-like symptoms (i.e. fever with cough and/or sore throat) now should go to McCosh Health Center for an in-person evaluation. Students can make a same-day appointment by calling (609) 258-3141 or by going to McCosh Health Center.

--Other causes of symptoms. Because flu-like activity has declined and H1N1 flu vaccinations are widely available, the likelihood that individuals are sick with flu has decreased since the fall. An in-person evaluation of students with fever, cough or sore throat is important for UHS staff to determine if there is another cause of symptoms, such as pneumonia, that may require different treatment than flu.

--Continue to limit contact. Students with a definitive diagnosis of flu-like illness should continue to follow previous guidance and stay in their rooms during illness and for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. Students should limit contact with others, except to seek medical care, and students who live within driving distance of the University may choose to return home for the duration of illness.

--Suspended notification requirements. UHS also has suspended the requirement that undergraduate students with flu-like illness notify their Directors of Student Life and that graduate students notify community program coordinator Olivia Martel. UHS also will suspend its daily e-mails to students diagnosed with flu-like illness. Because flu-like illness remains generally mild and students will now be evaluated in-person at UHS, it is appropriate to suspend these more aggressive follow-up procedures at this time.

--Take care. Students diagnosed with flu-like illness should follow normal standards of care as they would for any illness. Students should get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs.

If there is another wave of influenza on campus or nationwide, these student guidelines will be re-examined and more aggressive directives may be re-instituted.

Employee Guidelines

In general, faculty and staff should continue to follow previous guidelines if diagnosed with flu-like illness.

--Contact personal physician. Employees with flu-like symptoms (fever with cough and/or sore throat) should contact their personal physicians. Employees who do not have a personal physician and who would like a list of physicians in the Princeton area should call Employee Health Services at (609) 258-5035 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

--Stay at home and limit contact. Employees with flu-like illness should not come to work and stay at home until they are no longer contagious. The guideline is to stay at home during illness and for at least 24 hours after the ill person's fever is gone. Individuals also should limit contact with others, except to get medical care.

--Notify supervisor. Ill employees should notify their supervisors of their absence from work.

--Take care. Employees with flu-like illness should follow normal standards of care as they would for any illness. Employees should get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs.

General Flu Information

If there is another wave of influenza on campus or nationwide, the University will re-examine its flu guidelines in order to provide the best public health response to our community and will update students and employees about any changes.

H1N1 flu vaccines are now widely available and individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not already. The Princeton Regional Health Department will hold a public vaccine clinic on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the John Witherspoon Middle School. For more information, visit: http://www.princetonhealthoffice.org/polAnnouncements.cfm. 

Individuals also may visit the New Jersey Flu Finder website to find a local vaccine clinic scheduled in their area: http://www.nj.gov/health/flu/findflushot.shtml. After holding a number of vaccine clinics on campus throughout the fall and winter, the University does not plan to schedule another vaccine clinic at this time.

For more information, visit the University's H1N1 web page: http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/. 

Last update: 05-Feb-2010 11:13 AM
Web page comments or errors: Robin Izzo.