A clinic will be held in 205 Student Health Center on the University Park campus Friday, Nov. 6, to distribute an additional 1,000 doses of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine to students 24 years of age and younger. Appointments must be scheduled online through the University Health Services (UHS) Web site at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/basics/online_access.cfm. H1N1 vaccinations are free of charge. (more)
University Health Services (UHS) clinical staff saw more than 300 students with influenza-like illness (ILI) during the week ending Oct. 24, 2009. Over 1,700 patients have been seen for ILI since the beginning of the fall semester on the University Park campus. (more)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified individuals 24 years of age and younger as high risk for contracting H1N1 influenza. Penn State's University Health Services now has a limited supply of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine available for students in this high risk group. (more)
Most areas of the United States are dealing with widespread influenza activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More people are expected to seek professional treatment this year than in years past and new strains of the flu virus are affecting younger people, which have parents and employers worried about how to handle the situation. Penn State President Graham Spanier and his guests, Thomas Terndrup and Betsy Hunt, will talk about prevention and treatment for the flu virus as well as response strategies for organizations and businesses on the upcoming edition of "To The Best Of My Knowledge" at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, on WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM. (more)
Vaccination against both seasonal and H1N1 influenza is recommended for college students. It is possible to contract both the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu since exposure to one does not give immunity to the other. (more)
Although flu symptoms are relatively mild for most students, H1N1 is highly contagious and has become widespread at University Park. More than 900 students have been diagnosed with influenza-like illness, or ILI, at University Health Services (UHS) since August 2009. The majority of these cases are assumed to be H1N1, as the seasonal flu season has not begun. Many students are able to recuperate fully at home without medical intervention. However, two Penn State students have required hospitalization and it is important for all students to know the warning signs of more serious complications from the flu. (more)
Understanding the implications of the H1N1 flu, responding to federal clean water mandates and managing Pennsylvania's natural gas rush were among the pressing issues addressed during the Penn State Agricultural Council's annual College of Agricultural Sciences Research Tour at the University Park campus recently. The half-day event introduced legislators, business and community leaders, and others to the leading-edge research on challenging topics being conducted by Penn State research and extension faculty. (more)
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)
