Seasonal Flu
The 2017 Flu Season is upon us. Florida, along with 35 other states are reporting widespread cases of the Flu. The best protection against the flu virus is to be vaccinated. Even though it is late in the season it is not too late to protect yourself against illness.
What Can You Do?
Prevention: To reduce your chance of getting ill, Get vaccinated. Even though SHS does not have the vaccination available anymore, places like Publix, Walgreens and CVS do. There is flu shot locator on the FL DOH website http://www.myflusafety.com/ . Just bring your insurance card and you should not have to pay. Always wash your hands before you eat and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. If you recognize that others are sick, limit your exposure to them when possible.
Symptoms: If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider, who will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
If you are ill: Stay home, until you have been without a fever of 100.5 or higher without the use of any fever reducers such as aspirin, Acetaminophen or Advil for 24 hours. Even after the fever subsides practice good habits and avoid contact with other people through social distancing. Avoid social gatherings as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
High-risk groups: People at high risk for complications of the seasonal flu, include those with the following conditions: Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus). Pregnant women also are at high risk for complications. Anyone in those high-risk groups should contact their health care provider if they exhibit flu-like symptoms.
Students, please contact your professor’s and work-study supervisors via email upon onset of symptoms with fever via email. Students can contact Health Services at 305 899-3750 to if they have questions. Notices of communicable diseases will only be provided to students seen in the SHC for treatment. They also can visit the Health Services Web site, www.barry.edu/healthservices.
Employees, please contact your supervisor upon onset of fever with symptoms. For Severe symptoms contact your health care provider.
Do not come to Class or Work if you have fever of 100.5F or higher. The Flu is highly contagious.
For more information on seasonal flu visit www.flu.gov , or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu/ .Florida Department of Health Flu Information link: http://www.myflusafety.com/
Student Health Services is asking employers and faculty to be understanding of possible increased absences due to the Flu. We do not want anyone sharing the Flu with rest of the community.