KCUMB H1N1 Flu Virus Information
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Symptoms
Please stay at home if you have any combination of the H1N1 flu virus symptoms, which include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills and fatigue
If You Are Sick
Any student complaining of fever associated with flu-like symptoms must stay at home and not attend classes. Any student experiencing these symptoms should practice self isolation and general preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing and use of face masks. Medical care should be sought from your physician, KCUMB Physician Associates or the Student Health Clinic. However, if there is an H1N1 or other flu pandemic, the health-care system may be overwhelmed. Under such conditions, students should stay home and receive supportive treatment.
If you are a student who has symptoms and need to miss class, please call or e-mail the appropriate program contact:
- First-year medical students contact Angel Fox at (816) 283-2223 or afox@kcumb.edu
- Second-year medical students contact Rneé O’Bannon at (816) 283-2218 or robannon@kcumb.edu
- Bioethics students contact Deb Mitchell at (816) 283-2219 or dmitchell@kcumb.edu
- Biomedical sciences students contact Tonya Kondel at (816) 283-2342 or tkondel@kcumb.edu
If you are an associate who has symptoms and need to miss work, please contact your supervisor as usual.
It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care. If you have severe illness or you are at high-risk group, contact your physician or KCUMB Physician Associates at (816) 941-1600. Your physician will determine whether flu testing and treatment is needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommended routine testing for all flu cases.
Emergency Warning Signs
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
People at High Risk for Developing Flu-Related Complications
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Pregnant women
People who have:
- Asthma
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Ways to Prevent the Spread of Influenza
- 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 hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- If you get influenza-like illness symptoms, stay home from work or school except to seek medical care and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
To review information about the H1N1 flu virus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please visit http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
