Flu at SPH: What You Can Do

Winter 2010 : Prevention efforts are important, members of the SPH community are urged to get flu vaccines and to follow basic steps to stay healthy.

H1N1 vaccine is now is now plentiful and available through University Health Service for UM-affiliated individuals, ages 10 and older, by appointment. The vaccine is free for currently enrolled UM students.

Flu Reporting at SPH

SPH students, faculty, staff are asked to complete a short survey if they become ill with influenza-like illness. The form does not replace your responsibility to contact professors and supervisors if you need to stay home; rather it will be used for data tracking.

Under the most likely scenario, the term will continue as normal. University experts in influenza will continue to collaborate with local, state and federal health officials and be prepared to follow any new recommendations. There are some important things to keep in mind:

If You Become Ill with Flu

Stay home when ill: Symptoms include: fever, cough, sore throat. Students, faculty, and staff who become ill with the flu should stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-lowering medication. More info:

What to Do if You Think You Might Have the Flu (PDF, University Health Service info for off-campus residents)
Flu vs. Cold Symptoms

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy (from the CDC)

Get flu shots.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

FAQs

Oct. 12, 2009: UMHS infectious diseas physician Sandro Cinti answers questions about H1N1 and the vaccine.

Oct. 1, 2009: Dr. Robert Winfield, the university’s chief health officer and director of the University Health Service, answers common question about flu at UM to date this year.

What if I am sick but have no sick time available?
Answers to this and more staff questions from UM HR.

Send flu-related questions to: sph.communications@umich.edu

More H1N1 background on SPH's Flu Topics page

H1N1 Flu: Media & News Releases

Expanded UHS flu vaccination (Dec. 8, UM release)
Beware of fraudulent e-mails about an alleged CDC-sponsored Michigan vaccination program (Dec. 3, UM)
What's Happening with H1N1 (Nov. 12, AnnArbor.com )
Washtenaw County Revamps H1N1 Strategy (Oct. 29, Ann Arbor Chronicle)
Flu Update from UMHS (Oct. 12, UMHS)
UM Chief Health Officer Updates on Flu’s Impact (Oct. 1, UM release)
Flu on Campus: What Works, What Doesn't (Sept. 18, Reuters)
UM Launches Campaign to Prevent H1N1 Influenza (Sept. 8, UM release)
Audio: SPH's JoLynn Montgomery Defines Pandemic (June 15, UM release)
VIDEO: Prepare, Don't Panic: SPH's Allison Aiello on why H1N1 is different. (May 4, UM News Service).