Oct. 20 update on H1N1A cases
Since residence halls opened on August 22, CC’s Boettcher Health Center has identified and reported to the American College Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control 141 cases of influenza-like illness. (Any patient with sudden onset of fever, cough and other H1N1A symptoms are presumed to have H1N1A, according to the CDC.) The health center reported an average of 12 cases per week until the week of Oct. 12, when 57 new cases were reported. Boettcher Health Center has no report of any student requiring hospitalization.
Here’s how the college is handling cases:
- A designated flu nurse at Boettcher Health Center answers students’ questions. Students are triaged based on symptoms, following the CDC definition of influenza-like illness.
- All students with cough are asked to wear a mask in the waiting room and while going to and from their rooms
- Students who have influenza-like illness are asked to self isolate and stay away from class and dining halls. Students are asked to stay in their rooms until they are without fever for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- At the students’ request, the health center provides medical supplies and appropriate medication, and food is delivered. Roommates also are provided with flu-prevention supplies.
- Professors are informed when the student goes into and comes out of self isolation.
- Residential Life Coordinators take students’ final temperature to determine if they may return to class.
- Flu prevention supplies are provided to all classrooms. Hand sanitizers are provided in many locations on campus including buffet stations in the dining halls.
- Educational campaigns continue on campus encouraging hand washing, coughing in sleeves instead of hands, and self isolating if sick.
- The health center encourages all students to get seasonal flu shots and will offer the H1N1A vaccine when it arrives from the CDC.
College employees are asked to stay home if they have flu symptoms, returning only after they have been symptom-free without medication for 24 hours.
Neither the El Paso County Health Department nor local health care providers have vaccine for the public as of Oct. 19. In the meantime, follow basic hygiene and flu prevention tips:
- If you are sick, stay home.
- Keep your children home and away from activities if they are sick.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Try to avoid contact with others who are sick.
- Be prepared for H1N1 flu, which may require you and your family to stay at home for several days.
- Stay updated: www.flu.gov and www.elpasocountyhealth.org, or call the Colorado Help Line for general H1N1 flu information, available in English and Spanish, at (877) 462-2911.