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Information on Preventing the Spread of Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu Virus

As seasonal flu and H1N1 flu viruses continue to circulate worldwide, health officials expect cases to increase in the United States, especially since influenza transmission typically spreads more quickly in the fall and winter. Therefore, it is likely that the Wake Tech community could be affected.

Wake Technical Community College will monitor the situation and will provide updates as warranted. We will treat the situation as we would a seasonal flu outbreak, with an emphasis on good hand washing practices and proper cough etiquette. Our procedures may change based on information provided by the state and local health officials and their pandemic plans.

In the meantime, we encourage all students, faculty and staff to incorporate the following habits, which are good general practices and especially important during flu outbreaks, into your routine.

• The single best way for adults and children to protect against the flu is to get a flu shot each year. Vaccine for the seasonal flu is available now at various locations. A vaccination for the H1N1 flu virus is expected to be available in the fall.
• Monitor the national and local news.
• Wash your hands frequently throughout the day.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth until you wash your hands.
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve. Please view the video at http://coughsafe.com/media.html .
• Practice good health habits - get plenty of sleep, exercise, eat nutritious meals, manage stress and drink plenty of fluids.
• If you have flu-like symptoms (fever of 100.5, cough, body aches, etc.), please stay home except to get medical care and do not attend class until your symptoms subside. Avoid contact with others until at least 24 hours after their fever resolves without the use of fever reducing medications (e.g. Tylenol or ibuprofen).
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If someone you live with becomes sick, continue to monitor your health daily and do not attend class if you develop flu-like symptoms.

We strongly encourage all faculty, staff, and students to review the recommended action steps from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Colleges and Universities:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/actionstepsstudents.htm

Our faculty will work with students regarding class absences related to flu or flu-like symptoms. As always, you should continue to notify your instructors by email regarding absence(s) from class.

We will continue to provide updated information about H1N1 flu on the Wake Tech Web site based on available data from local health officials. You can also sign up to receive emergency text message alerts at the following web sites:

The CDC has more information available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm .