H1N1 FAQ

Cough lasting 7-12 days
Fever (often above 102) for 3-5 days with chills (though there have been several cases without fever)
Muscle Aches
Sore Throat
Headache
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea is less frequent

If they have:

Asthma or lung conditions that have any increased cough or shortness of breath
Chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or increasing cough after 5-7 days
Fever over 102 degrees for 3 days
A concern about dehydration from inadequate fluid intake or vomiting
Chronic conditions or immune suppression (on steroids or chemotherapy). These individuals should go to the doctor within the first 2 days of symptoms.

There is a test but its reliability is less than desirable. The state of Wisconsin is no longer testing patients. Diagnoses are being made by evaluating the patient’s symptoms.

Ideally, students should go home and away from campus. Employees should stay home and not go to work.
If students can’t leave, they should self-isolate in their residence hall room or apartment. This means: having meals brought in, not going out to shop or to friends’ rooms, or to class or library, or to parties or bars. Students on meal plans can get a sick tray through Blackhawk Commons.
Drink fluids, sleep, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen (especially if you have a stomach ache). Over the counter cough medicines (Dayquil, Nyquil, Mucinex D, Sudafed) may be helpful.
E-mail and/or call professors/employers to let them know they have influenza and you will not be in class/work. Make arrangements with your professors to make up the work missed.
Wash hands with soap and water frequently and/or use hand sanitizer.
Cough into tissue or into a sleeve.

You may return to class/work when your fever is <100 degrees by thermometer for 24 hrs without taking fever reducing medication.

The virus is still able to be spread (even after the fever is gone) for up to 10 total days. So an infected person needs to still cough into a tissue or their sleeve and wash hands frequently with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer.
If you may expose high risk persons with chronic illness to H1N1, you should stay away from those individuals till the cough is gone.

The chancellor has stated that written excuses/notes will not be required to return to class. The Health Center does not provide medical excuses.
Make sure you contact your professors to let them know you are ill. Keep your professors posted on the course of your illness by phone and/or e-mail, especially if you are out of class for more than 5 days. Work with them to make up the missed work for your classes.

Get the seasonal flu vaccine (see below for clinics) and the H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine won’t be available until mid to late October. Look for notice of H1N1 flu clinics in the coming week on the Student Health Center Web site.
Hand washing, hand washing, hand washing
Avoid sick friends
Get plenty of sleep
Quit smoking
Avoid large groups of people such as crowded parties
Take care of yourself by eating right, getting exercise, and not over indulging in activities and substances that can run down your immune system.

Students are recommended to get the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine is available now at the Health Center or at local health clinics.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available in mid to late October. Once the Health Center has the vaccine, several clinics will be scheduled and the campus will be notified. These vaccines will only be available to UW Oshkosh students.