University health officials are sharing various kinds of information this fall to help the community understand the breadth and impact of seasonal flu and H1N1 illness across the student community, and to stay in touch with ill students as they rest and recover. Penn State's Division of Student Affairs, through the Office of Residence Life, has created a simple self-reporting page through its eLiving Web site. University Park students living both on campus and off are encouraged to log in to the eLiving site to register their flulike illnesses, whether seasonal flu or suspected H1N1, through the Student Flu Status link. (more)
Penn State's University Park campus is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health as an H1N1 vaccination site for students. "We have not yet received confirmation that we will be a PUSH site for the vaccinations, but we fully expect that to happen," said Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services (UHS). "We volunteered because of our high concentration of the population most affected by the virus - those up to age 24." The Bryce Jordan Center is the most probable site of the vaccination distribution, because logistically it can handle a much higher traffic load than University Health Services. The University expects to receive enough vaccinations to inoculate all eligible students who wish to be vaccinated, Spear said. (more)
While it is hoped that all University employees remain healthy during this flu season, there is a possibility that some may become ill with either the seasonal flu or H1N1. In an effort to answer ongoing queries related to the flu and possible missed work time, the following Frequently Asked Questions should provide responses that give University employees guidance on what to do if they or a loved one contract the flu. (more)
With flu season well under way, faculty members are reminded that if they have flu-like symptoms they should stay home and avoid contact with others until they recover fully. They also are reminded that students are being asked to do the same and students are not required to provide a doctor's excuse for absences. (more)
A third of the way into the fall semester, reports of H1N1 flu have continued to increase, according to Dr. Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services at Penn State. Easily spread among college-age students, the illness requires those who are sick to avoid public areas, such as work or class, and to stay away from people until they recover (self-isolate). To accomplish this many Penn State faculty, staff, students and peer tutors are responding in particularly helpful ways -- like encouraging students to stay home when they are ill. (more)
Fall begins the season for any number of viruses to make their appearance in the campus population. Colds, sore throat and other ailments become more commonplace, which could lead you to wonder if you have contracted the flu or if you simply are a bit under the weather. To help you determine if you may have contracted the flu, University Health Services has provided a guide to the symptoms and ailments that most commonly accompany the flu virus. In general, the flu is more likely to have fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue, and less likely to have predominant symptoms of sneezing and nasal congestion. (more)
It's flu season, and whether you have the H1N1 virus or just the garden variety flu virus, you may not feel like doing much of anything -- especially going out to meet friends or heading off to work. That's a good thing, according to health care professionals. Anyone with flu-like symptoms should do all they can to avoid contact with others, at least until 24 hours after their fever has cleared without the use of fever-reducing medications. With the number of flu cases expected to rise in the coming month as flu season hits its stride, doctors in University Health Services have prepared a Self-Care Guide for Influenza. (more)
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services held a Flu Prevention PSA Contest that asked contestants to make videos "that will inform and motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of the flu. Make your video fun, smart and entertaining." One of the finalists is a "toothbrush prank" video, that carries with it a serious and timely message. Click on the full story to reach a link to watch it, as well as additional videos housed on the Department's YouTube channel. (more)
The flu is a serious respiratory infection that affects millions of people each year and spreads easily through the respiratory droplets of an infected person. Although recovery may take several days, most people recover from the flu (including H1N1 flu) with rest and proper self-care strategies.As the fall semester creeps into its second month, Penn State's medical professionals continue their mission to educate the campus population about how to stay avoid the H1N1 virus this flu season. However, students, faculty and staff may still encounter the illness and should know what to do if they have the flu. (more)
As a precautionary measure in the event of significant disruption due to the H1N1 flu, Information Technology Services has compiled information on technology resources that would allow faculty and students to continue their teaching and learning activities with minimal disruption even if classroom attendance or traditional instruction were not possible. These include ANGEL, the Blogs at Penn State, Adobe Connect desktop videoconferencing, and several ways to create prerecorded lectures. For details, visit http://tlt.its.psu.edu/profiles/flu online. In addition, faculty can find recommendations for an emergency statement to include in a course syllabus at http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/syllabus/content online. (more)
