Health Alerts
Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)
11/17/09
The Student Health Center will conduct an H1N1 vaccination clinic Thursday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m., at Tyler Haynes Commons, Alice Haynes Room. Approximately 800 doses of vaccine will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge. The clinic will remain open until the supply of vaccine has been distributed.
Only full-time undergraduate, law and graduate students are eligible to be vaccinated. Part-time and continuing studies students, faculty, and staff are not eligible. Please be prepared to show current University identification.
Despite news reports that H1N1 cases are declining nationally, the campus community appears to be experiencing a second wave of influenza-like illness (ILI). Therefore, the Student Health Center strongly recommends that students be vaccinated for both H1N1 and seasonal flu.
In prioritizing the recipients of the H1N1 vaccine, the University is following CDC guidelines, which include children and young adults between ages 2 and 24 as a group recommended to receive the vaccine.
The Student Health Center expects to continue receiving supplies of H1N1 vaccine, although we do not know when deliveries will arrive. As supplies become available, the Student Health Center will hold additional clinics for students on campus.
If you are not an eligible student, you can locate a provider of H1N1 vaccine by accessing the Virginia Department of Health Web site at: www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/H1N1/VaccinationSites.htm. Additionally, all faculty and staff have access to the services of Health Advocate to assist with H1N1 vaccine questions.
11/9/09
The Student Health Center will conduct a vaccination clinic to provide H1N1 vaccine to full-time undergraduate students, full-time law students, and full-time graduate students only. Part-time students, School of Continuing Studies students, faculty, and staff are not eligible for this vaccine clinic.
The vaccine clinic will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gottwald Science Center atrium. The clinic will remain open until the current, limited supply of vaccine has been distributed. The vaccine is offered free of charge.
In prioritizing the recipients of the vaccine, the University is following CDC guidelines, which include children and young adults between the ages of 2 and 24 as a group recommended to receive the vaccine.
The Student Health Center expects to receive more vaccine, although we do not know when it will arrive. When additional supplies become available, the Student Health Center will hold additional clinics on campus that will be open to students.
If you are not an eligible student, you may locate a provider of H1N1 vaccine by accessing the Virginia Department of Health Web site at: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/H1N1/VaccinationSites.htm.
Additionally, all faculty and staff have access to the services of Health Advocate to assist with H1N1 vaccine questions. Health Advocate can:
-Locate doctors and hospitals anywhere in the country
-Arrange and schedule appointments
-Help schedule specialized tests
-Transfer medical records, lab results, and other pertinent tests to a new physician
-Clarify general questions about Swine Flu, tests, treatments, and medications
-Provide information about recommendations to prevent Swine Flu
11/6/09
A message from Steve Bisese, Vice President, Student Development
We have received a small shipment of H1N1 vaccine, and high-risk students were given the opportunity to be vaccinated in two clinics earlier this week (November 5 and 6).
We expect to receive more vaccine to distribute next week, and will hold clinics on campus that will be open to students (depending upon how many doses are sent to us) once we receive the vaccine. We will schedule the clinics and announce them to the campus community as soon as we get our shipment of vaccine from the state health department.
We know that getting the H1N1 vaccine has been of great concern to students, their parents, and staff and faculty. As recent media reports have stated, all vaccination sites are waiting on the state health department. It is important for you to know that we ordered our vaccine weeks ago, and are simply waiting to receive it so we can provide vaccinations to you.
So that the University’s Student Health Center staff can focus on providing the care needed to those who are ill on campus, please do not email or call the Student Health Center to ask when you can get vaccinated. We will announce the vaccination clinics as soon as we receive the vaccine. I appreciate your cooperation with this request, and also want to extend my thanks to the Student Health Center staff for all of their hard work in treating our ill students.
Thank you very much for your patience as we all wait to receive our shipments of vaccine.
11/2/09
H1N1 Vaccine Update: We expect shipment of H1N1 vaccine in the next week or so. We will notify students as soon as possible and hold clinics ASAP for vaccines. Continue to check our website for details.
10/20/09
H1N1 Vaccine Update: We do not expect shipment of H1N1 vaccine until mid-November. In the event we receive the H1N1 vaccine before our seasonal flu shot clinics on October 27, 28 & 29, we will notify students and it will be offered free of charge at the seasonal flu clinics.
9/18/09
The University's Emergency Management Team thanks everyone on campus for following flu prevention practices, resulting in a relatively small number of influenza-like illnesses so far this fall. Presently, we estimate about a dozen students are recovering from influenza-like illness (ILI) on any given day. Since Aug. 24, approximately 90 students have been diagnosed at the Student Health Center (SHC) as having ILI. Other students may have been diagnosed by off-campus healthcare providers. Fortunately, no one has required hospitalization.
The number of students seeking treatment or telephone advice for ILI decreased during the last week. Because the number of students visiting the Student Health Center on weekends with ILI symptoms has been so low, weekend hours have been discontinued. If the campus experiences an upsurge in students with ILI, we will re-evaluate the need to open the SHC on weekends.
Some students with ILI have not sought treatment from a health care provider and are recuperating uneventfully in self-isolation in their campus residences. During self-isolation for ILI, we recommend using the supplies in free flu kits prepared by the SHC. Each kit contains surgical masks (to be worn by ill students when unable to avoid close contact with roommates), a thermometer, fever reducing medications, and written instructions for self-management of ILI. The kits are available at the SHC and Richmond and Westhampton College dean's offices during normal business hours, or from the Lora Robins Hall or Whitehurst R.A. duty offices 8 p.m.–12 midnight, Sunday–Thursday, and 8 p.m.–2 a.m., Friday-Saturday. We encourage well students to pick up a flu kit for themselves and a flu buddy, just in case.
Flu-specific meals-to-go from Heilman Dining Center can be requested online at dining.richmond.edu or by calling 289-8522. (Please arrange with a roommate or friend to pick up your meals.)
Seasonal influenza vaccine is now available at the SHC for students at risk for serious complications of influenza. That includes people age 65 and older, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, kidney or heart disease) and people who are immunosuppressed (for example, those taking immunosuppressive medications, or HIV-positive). Call the Student Health Center at 289-8064 for an appointment. The $25 charge can be billed through Student Accounts. Clinics for seasonal flu shots are scheduled for Oct. 27–29, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Westhampton College Hanging Lounge. If the University is approved by federal and state health agencies to receive a supply of the H1N1 vaccine, everyone on campus will be notified about how vaccinations will be administered.
The University is offering seasonal flu shots for $10 to all employees, spouses or same-sex domestic partners and dependent children over the age of 18 on Sept. 23 from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at Tyler Haynes Commons, Hanging Lounge.
Health officials expect that cases of ILI will continue to occur on campus, so the Emergency Management Team urges everyone to maintain flu prevention practices—especially frequent hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer, and covering your cough with a tissue or sleeve.
9/16/09
Influenza kits containing anti-fever medications, masks, thermometers, tissues, and information about self-care are available at the following locations:
* WC Dean's Office (Gottwald 3rd floor room C-317 until October 5th) 8:30–5:00
* Lora Robins Duty office 8:00 to midnight Sun.–Thurs., and 8:00 to 2:00 am Fri. and Sat.
* RC Dean's Office 8:30–5:00
* Whitehurst Duty office 8:00 to midnight Sun.–Thurs., and 8:00 to 2:00 am Fri. and Sat.
The Student Health Center recommends having these supplies on hand before you develop influenza-like symptoms. Pick up a flu kit for you and your flu buddy today.
9/4/09
As expected, the campus community has had a number of students diagnosed with influenza-like illness (ILI) since the fall semester opened on Aug. 24. Through last Wednesday, 42 students had been diagnosed with ILI, but all have either recovered or are recuperating without any serious complications. Fortunately, University of Richmond has not seen the large numbers of cases that other campuses around the country have.
Campus health officials expect that more cases will occur throughout the coming weeks, just as seasonal flu does during the winter. So, the Student Health Center, Virginia Department of Health and CDC strongly recommend continuation of flu prevention measures (frequent hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer, covering of coughs and sneezes, and so on).
The Student Health Center will open Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. to see students who might be coming down with ILI. The health center will be open on Monday, September 7, for regular office hours.
Dining Services continues to offer preparation of carry-out meals for students who are ill and request them through the Dining Services Web site.
Because of the very few calls being received, the university’s flu hotline (804-289-8847, 1-866-920-5461) will not be staffed by live volunteers. Instead, callers can leave a voice mail message to request information or assistance. A university staff member will check the voice mail box periodically.
Additionally, the Student Health Center Web site offers answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding ILI, accessing university resources, preventative measures and more.
About 2009 H1N1 Influenza (previously referred to as novel Influenza A (H1N1)
This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 and the World Health Organization officially declared a global pandemic in June 2009. The virus causes an influenza-like illness with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, headache, and chills. Some people may also have diarrhea and vomiting. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred. The virus is thought to spread person to person, the same way seasonal flu spreads, through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. 2009 H1N1 Influenza - Link to CDC Information
Currently, a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is in production and expected to be available by mid-October. In the meantime, there are everyday steps you can take to help prevent the spread of this illness. The CDC recommends: Take 3 Campaign
Students
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions about Influenza-like Illness (ILI). If you have any questions, call the UR Dial-A-Nurse at 289-8700. The CDC provides additional information for managing your illness in residential housing recommendations for colleges and universities. Also, here are some tips on managing your anxiety about H1N1.
E-mail to Students & Parents, 8/31/09
Letter to Students August 2009
University Employees
Please consult your healthcare provider if you develop a respiratory infection with influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, headache, chills). The CDC has specific recommendations for employees to help you manage your illness in the workplace.
E-mail to Faculty & Staff, 9-1-09
Letter to Employees August 2009
For additional information:
Virginia Department of Health - Information Hotline
Seasonal Flu Vaccine - UR Students
Students at high risk for complications from influenza (history of asthma or chronic illness such as diabetes, kidney disease; or in some way immune-compromised) are eligible to receive the flu vaccine now. You may call the Student Health Center at 289-8064 for an appointment.
The cost of $25 may be billed through Student Accounts.
Clinics for all students - seasonal flu shots:
Tuesday, October 27 - Wednesday, October 28 - Thursday, October 29
11:00 am - 3:00 pm Westhampton College Hanging Lounge
Clinic in Law School - seasonal flu shots: Wednesday, November 4 - Law School Commons 11:30 - 2:30
Other Alerts
Meningococcal Disease
A bacterial infection, meningococcal disease is one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. It can also cause sepsis, pneumonia or joint infections. The disease, which can cause brain damage, hearing loss, or loss of limbs, is contagious and must be treated early. See the CDC for more detailed information.
Mumps
The U.S. is currently experiencing its largest outbreak of mumps in 20 years. The predominant age group affected is 18- to 24-year-olds. To protect yourself from mumps, ensure that you have received two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. While rare, complications can be severe, including meningitis, encephalitis, and orchitis. The SHC follows guidelines from the American College Health Association protocol for handling mumps in the college community. See the CDC for more detailed information.
MRSA
Within the past year, there have been a number of cases of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcal aureus (MRSA) in the news in Virginia. Resistant to antibiotics, MRSA is difficult to treat and therefore can be very serious. While there have been no outbreaks or clustering of cases at the University, we recommend that students wash their hands often to prevent the spread of staph, as well as other infections. University Facilities regularly cleans areas that are known to serve as reservoirs for staph bacteria. See the CDC for more detailed information about Community Associated MRSA for the Public and Questions & Answers about MRSA in Schools.
Pandemic Flu
Pandemic influenza occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans and spreads easily from person to person around the globe. In the 20th century, there have been three major influenza pandemics which have resulted in millions of deaths. Health professionals are currently concerned that the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus—and its spread across eastern Asia and other continents—represents a similar threat to human health. Consult pandemicflu.gov and Virginia Department of Health for more information.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Diseases aren’t alone in threatening our health and safety. Today we also have to be prepared for outside factors such as bioterrorism, natural disasters and radiation and chemical emergencies. See the CDC for more detailed information.
West Nile Virus
A potentially serious illness, West Nile virus (WNV) is believed by experts to be a seasonal epidemic in North America—it flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. Severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, coma, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Neurological effects may be permanent. Up to 20 percent of infected people have milder symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. About 80 percent have no symptoms at all. Because mosquitoes carry the virus, the best way to prevent West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. See the CDC for more detailed information.