Flu Information for Students, Faculty & Staff
Health officials are anticipating an active flu season, which will include cases of traditional flu strains and also the H1N1 strain, dubbed the "Swine Flu." Since H1N1 tends to be more common in young people from six months of age to age 24, the Swine Flu has the potential to affect a large number of college-age students.
To that end, Wytheville Community College students and employees are urged to take the following steps in order to mitigate the chances of contracting the flu:
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners area also effective.
- Practice respiratory etiquette. The main way flu spreads is from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it is important for you to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, you should cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick. Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever.
- Talk to your health care provider about whether you should be vaccinated. Students, faculty, and staff who want protection from the flu are encouraged to get vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also, those at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes).
Students, faculty, and staff should take personal responsibility to help slow the spread of the flu virus. Be practicing the steps listed above, you can keep from getting sick from the flu and help protect others from getting the flu.
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