Campus Health Advisory

Lower your chances of getting or spreading the flu

Get a seasonal flu shot!	Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.	Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.	Stay home if you are sick.

Images and information above are compliments of Massachusetts Department of Public Health www.mass.gov/flu

Flu Information & Updates

This fall, preparing for a new academic year also means planning for a seasonal influenza virus. All public health agencies are planning for an increase in flu cases, and at Lesley we are staying in touch with those agencies as we strive to keep the Lesley community healthy through the flu season.

The best defenses -- both for yourself and those around you -- is in personal behavior geared to prevention and education. We urge everyone to consult the following resources.

Learn more:

• Centers for Disease Control website - obtain the latest information about the seasonal influenza virus
• Flu Symptoms
• Preventive Behavior

For general information, please refer to the sections below which pertain to your Lesley affiliation:

• Faculty and Staff (Cambridge Boston)
• Faculty and Staff (National Programs)
• Residential Students
• Off-Campus Students (Cambridge/Boston)
• Off-Campus Students (National Programs)

LESLEY UNIVERSITY INFLUENZA EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDE

Lesley University is urging everyone in the Lesley community to learn how to protect themselves and those around them from the influenza virus. As the seasonal flu makes its appearance at Lesley University, our goal is to minimize the spread and guided by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local public health agencies, protect the health and safety of the Lesley Community to the greatest extent possible.

Throughout the year, we will continue to receive updates from public health agencies, and have the information and updates posted online for the Lesley community.

It is important that all students, faculty and staff familiarize yourself with information concerning the threat of influenza and how to protect yourself and those around you. This web site strives to provide you with reliable resources for the latest information – as well as policies and procedures for safe behavior on and off campus at Lesley.

Flu Symptoms

• Do you have a cough?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have a headache, body aches or chills?
• Do you have a fever of 100°F or more?

If you answered yes to a fever of 100°F or more and any of the other symptoms, you have an "influenza-like illness!" (flu sometimes also causes nasal symptoms, diarrhea and vomiting).

While most people will experience these symptoms for 3-4 days, there are some people who are at increased risk -Some people with underlying medical issues are at increased risk of complications from influenza. Asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and pregnancy are several of the conditions which increase an individual's risk. Emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include:

• 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

Information & Preventive Behavior

H1N1 in "post-pandemic" period:  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2010/h1n1_vpc_20100810/en/index.html

What is "post-pandemic" period: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/post_pandemic/en/index.html  

WHO recommendations for the post-pandemic period: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20100810/en/index.html

Hand Washing and Cough Etiquette

These are terms you'll be hearing a lot throughout the coming flu season. These two common sense practices are the single best methods of protecting yourself and those around you.

You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4 This video demonstrates not only proper procedure – but also a real sense of how unwashed hands can help transmit a virus, especially to and from children. More on the importance of hand washing – both to prevent the transmission of influenza and as a part of proper hygiene is here: http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/

Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer [pdf] you'll see around campus.

• Cover the nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing;
• Use tissues to contain respiratory secretions and dispose of them in the nearest waste receptacle after use;
• Perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials

Faculty and Staff (Cambridge/Boston)

PREVENTION

Wash your hands diligently and cover your cough.

 These are simple but essential practices:

• You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4.
• Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer [pdf].

GET VACCINATED-Seasonal flu spreads easily from person to person. The CDC is recommending that people get the seasonal flu vaccine when it becomes available later this fall. We urge you and everyone at Lesley to have a heightened sense of concern for your health and that of our community.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, you have a real responsibility to help prevent the spread to those around you. If you have flu symptoms, stay home and do not come to work until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.

Flu Symptoms

• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches or chills
• fever of 100°F or more
• learn more about flu symptoms and preventive behavior

Should you seek emergency care at a hospital?

Emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough (could indicate pneumonia.)

Faculty and Staff (National Programs)

PREVENTION

Wash your hands diligently and cover your cough.

These are simple but essential practices:

• You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4.
• Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer pdf].

GET VACCINATED-Seasonal flu spreads easily from person to person. The CDC is recommending that people get the seasonal flu vaccine immediately, and the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available later this fall. We urge you and everyone at Lesley to have a heightened sense of concern for your health and that of our community.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, you have a real responsibility to help prevent the spread to those around you. If you have flu symptoms, stay home and do not come to work until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.

• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches or chills
• fever of 100°F or more
• learn more about flu symptoms and preventive behavior

Residential Students

PREVENTION

Wash your hands diligently and cover your cough.

These are simple but essential practices:

• You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4.
• Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer [pdf].

GET VACCINATED-Seasonal flu spreads easily from person to person. The CDC is recommending that people get the seasonal flu vaccine as it becomes available later this fall. We urge you and everyone at Lesley to have a heightened sense of concern for your health and that of our community.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, you have a real responsibility to help prevent the spread to those around you. If you have flu-like symptoms, stay isolated until you can make it home. You may return to campus after your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol. If it is impossible to go home until you are well, you must remain in your room, leaving only to go to the bathroom while wearing a mask to prevent others from becoming infected.

• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches or chills
• fever of 100°F or more
• learn more about flu symptoms and preventive behavior

Should you seek emergency care at a hospital?

Emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough (could indicate pneumonia.)

Off-Campus Students (Boston/Cambridge)

PREVENTION

Wash your hands diligently and cover your cough.

These are simple but essential practices:

• You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4.
• Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer [pdf].

GET VACCINATED- Seasonal flu spreads easily from person to person. The CDC is recommending that people get the seasonal flu vaccine as it becomes available later this fall. We urge you and everyone at Lesley to have a heightened sense of concern for your health and that of our community.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, you have a real responsibility to help prevent the spread to those around you. If you have flu symptoms, stay home and do not come to campus until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.

• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches or chills
• fever of 100°F or more
• learn more about flu symptoms and preventive behavior

Should you seek emergency care at a hospital?

In adults, emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough (could indicate pneumonia.)

Off-Campus Students (National Programs)

PREVENTION

Wash your hands diligently and cover your cough.

These are simple but essential practices:

• You know how to wash your hands, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4.
• Cough Etiquette – "Cover your mouth when you cough," a familiar message, and an important one. Follow the guidelines below, and take notice of this Cover your Cough flyer [pdf].

GET VACCINATED-Seasonal flu spreads easily from person to person. The CDC is recommending that people get the seasonal flu vaccine as it becomes available later this fall. We urge you and everyone at Lesley to have a heightened sense of concern for your health and that of our community.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, you have a real responsibility to help prevent the spread to those around you. If you have flu symptoms, stay home and do not come to campus until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.

• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches or chills
• fever of 100°F or more
• learn more about flu symptoms and preventive behavior

Should you seek emergency care at a hospital?

In adults, emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough (could indicate pneumonia.)