PARENTS LETTER ON H1N1 FLU

August 18, 2009

Dear Parents of Barry University (BU) Students:

We share your concerns about the H1N1 flu and assure you that the health and well-being of our students is our top priority.

Because the average age of swine flu patients is about 20, we are not surprised that BU and other universities around the country are seeing more cases. We have been working diligently to help our students stay healthy. Because H1N1 is a public health challenge throughout South Florida and beyond, we urge our students to take precautions everywhere they go.

A multi-disciplinary team of BU staff, including Health Services and Housing & Residence Life, meets regularly to discuss H1N1 and our responses. Our communications with students have included e-mail updates, posters in residence halls promoting good hygiene and presentations from resident assistants about steps students can take to stay healthy.

At the Student Health Center, we are placing students in masks immediately when they come in with flu symptoms. We treat all suspected cases of the H1N1 flu as if they are confirmed, and we treat students with the anti-viral Tamiflu as appropriate. In accordance with the CDC recommendations people with influenza-like illness should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

As the seasonal flu approaches we are encouraging all students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. To date, a vaccination for Novel H1 N1 is in the experimental stages, however, the CDC and the World Health organization are anticipating a vaccination to be available in the early fall. The Staff of the SHC will be notifying the students when and if we receive the vaccine for administration.

For more information, you can visit the Health Services Web site at www.barry.edu/healthservices. You can also consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov.

In Good Health,

Eileen Hineline, Director
Barry University Student Health