University of St. Thomas H1N1 (or Influenza-Like-Illness) Report for Oct. 21, 2009

By Madonna McDermott, director, Student Health Service & Wellness Center

The H1N1 influenza outbreak is showing steady increases in students at the University of St. Thomas.  Seventy-four new cases have been reported for the seventh week of school; that is up from 62 cases last week. The total number is now at 277. The majority of these cases have been reported to be relatively mild with most students recovering and returning to classes after a few days.
 
Students who are ill can use a form to report their absence from classes. Click on the "Student H1N1 Report of Absence" button on the St. Thomas Pandemic Web site at: http://www.stthomas.edu/pandemic/.

Please refer to the earlier-published student triage protocol tool for assistance in determining if you need be evaluated by a health-care provider.
Remember that the H1N1 influenza is an easily transmittable virus and that large gatherings in close quarters as well as sharing of beverages should be avoided.

The state of Minnesota has received a very limited number of doses of H1N1 vaccine. The clinics that have received this limited supply are following the guidelines to administer only to the following subset of the highest-priority patients:

• Children 6 months through 4 years of age; 
• Children 5-18 who have health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or cancer; 
• Pregnant women; 
• Health-care providers and EMS personnel who provide direct patient care; 
• Parents and primary-care providers of infants under 6 months of age.

The Student Health Service has not yet received any supply of the H1N1 vaccine and it may be after Thanksgiving before expected doses are available at St. Thomas. Approximately 15 percent of the doses needed for this first subset of patients have arrived in Minnesota. It is it is expected that there will be enough vaccine for all those who would like to receive it eventually.

Due to the high volumes of phone calls and walk-in patients at the Student Health Service, we request that members of the St. Thomas not call the clinic to inquire if the H1N1 vaccine has arrived. That information will be communicated via Bulletin Today and the Pandemic and Student Health Service Web sites when the vaccine does becomes available.

In related news, the Minnesota Department of Health today announced a new phone-based service that is available for Minnesotans who think they may have the flu.

Beginning today, Oct. 21, people with possible flu symptoms can call the Minnesota FluLine (MN FluLine) at 1-866-259-4655 for information and treatment options. Professionals will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with limited English skills will be connected with an interpreter. There is no charge for the call.

Callers with flu symptoms will be connected with a participating nurse at MN FluLine, or a nurse at a triage line operated by their own provider network or health plan. The nurses will evaluate the health concerns of callers and discuss treatment options, using consistent criteria to determine which treatment option is most appropriate for each individual.

Health officials continue to emphasize prevention measures as the first line of defense against the flu: stay home if you're sick with a flu-like illness, cover your coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or a tissue, and wash your hands frequently.  

For most people, staying home when they are sick means staying home from work or school, and avoiding other locations where they could expose others to the flu, until at least 24 hours after their fever resolves, without the aid of medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

People who need information about the flu, but do not have symptoms, are encouraged to visit the flu information page on the MDH Web site at www.mdhflu.com. The Web site offers a wide range of information and resources, including an interactive flu shot clinic finder.