Influenza and H1N1 update
I’m writing to provide you with some helpful information on what to do if you become ill due to influenza/H1N1 and what we can all do to prevent illness.
Stay home if you are sick
If you come to campus to study and if you are sick, we ask that you stay home until your symptoms have gone away. This includes those students who are living in residence and can return home for the duration of their illness.
Contact your professors but sick notes not required
It’s also very important that you contact your professors by email to let them know you are sick. Sick notes will not be required for absences from class, late assignments, or missed mid-terms due to influenza/H1N1-like illnesses until further notice.
Be prepared
We would also like to encourage all of you to have supplies on-hand so you are prepared if you do become ill. A personal flu kit could include items such as: a thermometer, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, sanitizing hand wipes and/or lotions, and bottled drinks and water.
Whether you live at home or in residence, we encourage you to find a friend, it could be a classmate, to check in with you if you are sick, to keep you updated on class activities, and so on.
Vaccination Clinics
Capital Health has indicated that the people who are at the greatest risk for H1N1 need the vaccine first. For the time being, this includes: Pregnant women (includes women up to four weeks post-partum) and children aged 6 months to 59 months (born between December 1, 2004 and May 1, 2009). The list of clinics is available on the Capital District Health website.Capital Health suggests monitoring its website for updates on when the vaccine will become available to others.
Provincial Assessment Centres/On-campus Health Services
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and feel you need medical attention, Assessment Centres have been set-up around the province for this purpose. For more information on location and hours visit the Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection website.
As always, our Health Services staff are available for students and they can be reached at 457-6354.
What we’re doing and what you can do
The Mount continues to monitor the situation closely, following the most up-to-date advice from the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection. As students, we encourage you to monitor the provincial site for the most current information. The link to the site is also accessible from the Mount’s H1N1 section on the University homepage.
As you know, over the last few months the University has been working diligently to take measures that would limit the risk of Mount community members from becoming ill. We will continue to ensure high traffic areas and surfaces around the University are properly disinfected and that hand sanitizer is available around campus. But there are steps we all have to take to prevent illness. Remember to wash your hands frequently, do not share drinks or food, stay away from others who are ill with the flu, observe appropriate etiquette when sneezing and coughing, and stay home if you become ill.
If we all do our part in staying healthy, we can help prevent the spread of any flu, including H1N1.
Sincerely,
Jeff Hollet
Associate Vice-President
Student Experience