H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information

Several students have already been diagnosed with influenza this semester. These early cases are believed to be due to H1N1 (Swine) influenza virus. The Seasonal flu vaccine does not offer any protection against H1N1(Swine) influenza. The H1N1 (Swine) influenza vaccine will become available in early November to the STMU community. It is still very important to become vaccinated against Seasonal influenza since it kills more than 36,000 people in the USA per year. This fall semester, each person has the potential of being infected with H1N1 (Swine) influenza AND Seasonal influenza. The medication for H1N1 (Swine) and Seasonal flu are not the same. Seasonal influenza is resistant to Tamiflu, but H1N1(Swine) influenza is susceptible to it. Rapid testing methods in the office will not discern whether the virus is from H1N1 (Swine) or Seasonal influenza. We are assuming these early cases of influenza are H1N1 because the surveillance (sentinel) clinics around town have not reported any cases of seasonal flu; 99% have been H1N1. It is advisable that individuals become vaccinated against Seasonal flu and use respiratory etiquette and frequent hand washing to protect against H1N1 (Swine) flu as we wait patiently for the H1N1 flu vaccine to become available.

As the number of flu cases rise among our students, faculty and staff, we must educate their families on how to help them when they are sent home ill. Click here for more information

]If you have been exposed to someone who has influenza-like symptoms, we are recommending that you monitor your symptoms for 10 days. Click here for your personal symptom log. If you have a chronic medical condition such as, diabetes, or asthma you should seek a medical evaluation whether you have symptoms or not. If you are not sure if you have the flu, take this assessment.

Students with St. Mary's Health Insurance have unlimited access to registered nurses via a toll-free number 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These nurses are specially trained to offer prompt, confidential medical counseling to help members make informed decisions about the health and medical care they receive. Click here for more information.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Recommendations

Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination is recommended for all adults without contraindications in the following groups, because these persons either are at higher risk for influenza complications, or are close contacts of persons at higher risk:

• persons aged 50 years and older;
• women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
• persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or HIV;
• residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• health-care personnel;
• household contacts and caregivers of children less than 5 years old and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children less than 6 months old; and
• household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

Influenza Prevention

Wash your hands FREQUENTLY: use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Cover your cough or sneeze. Remember your respiratory particles can spread about 3 feet in front of you when you do not cover your cough or sneeze, so use your sleeve or a tissue to cough or sneeze into. Remember to toss your used tissue in the wastebasket and wash your hands afterwards.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth: The flu virus lives on surfaces for 2-8 hours so limit handshaking; wipe down exercise equipment, door knobs, keyboards, telephones, etc. on a frequent basis throughout the day.

Become vaccinated for Seasonal influenza and H1N1 (swine) influenza virus once these vaccines become available.

We anticipate the Seasonal (H3N2) vaccine to become available to our campus community in mid- September. A campus wide Flu vaccine drive will take place once the vaccine shipment is received.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will offer the H1N1 (swine) vaccine to high priority individuals in mid-October (limited shipment expected in October). Once the production levels of H1N1 (Swine) vaccine increase, the SAMHD will start distributing the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine to the private sector. Another Flu vaccine drive will be coordinated on campus once the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine shipment is received.

Remember that the Seasonal (H3N2) vaccine will not protect you against H1N1 (Swine) flu, so if you want protection from both flu strains, you will need to receive 2 flu shots (one for Seasonal flu and the other for Swine flu).

If you are ill:

Stay home! Flu viruses go wherever you go when you are infected. Faculty, staff, and students who are ill with flu-like symptoms should remain at home (or in their room) until their temperature returns to normal for at least 24 hours WITHOUT fever-reducing medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (Ibuprofen).

If you are ill, wear a surgical mask when you have to leave your home or dorm room to visit the doctor or student health center or when you are around other people (i.e. pharmacy). Also, stay at least 6 feet away from others so that you do not infect them. If you are a student with influenza-like symptoms (ILI), call the Student Health Center at 210-436-3506 for an appointment or telephone advice. Contact your professors and make arrangements for missed class assignments/exams.

If you are a faculty or staff member with influenza-like symptoms, call your doctor and contact your immediate supervisor. Individuals who have diabetes, asthma, chronic lung problems, are immunocompromised or have other chronic medical problems should visit their doctors ASAP if they develop influenza-like symptoms (ILI).

Influenza Symptoms

Fever >100 degrees, Cough, Sore throat, Body aches, Chills, Fatigue, Headache, Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

Difficulty breathing, Chest pain, Stiff neck, Sudden dizziness, Confusion, Severe, persistent vomiting/diarrhea, Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then fever returns and cough is worse.

Similar to our efforts this past spring, the University is taking steps to raise the level of cleaning and sanitation of critical areas on campus, since influenza is thought to be spread mainly from person to person through coughing and/or sneezing of infected people.

St. Mary's University has a plan in place to deal with an outbreak of Swine Flu should there be such an occurrence. Sandra Vasquez, M.D., Director of the St. Mary's University Student Health Center, is actively monitoring the situation and is in frequent contact with state and local public health officials. The University community will be frequently updated on the Swine Flu situation and notified immediately should there be changes in the situation that affect St. Mary's students, faculty and staff. In the meantime, you may find the following resource links informative.

Centers for Disease Control
Texas Department of Health
World Health Organization

You can read this special report from Student Health 101 (download aspdf).