Likely H1N1 Cases at Marietta College

From Tom Perry at College Relations…

To the Marietta College Community:

We wanted to update you on the status of H1N1 on campus. Currently eight Marietta College students and two employees have been identified with cases of “probable influenza—not confirmed by testing” that meet probable definitions for H1N1 flu, according to the Student Health Center and through self-reporting. The employees are being isolated at home, while the students are being isolated in their room on campus or at home.

College officials encourage everyone to continue practicing preventative measures to help limit the spread of any type of flu. For additional information on seasonal flu preparedness go to:
http://www.marietta.edu/Student_Life/Living_on_Campus/Safety/flu_preparedness.html

The two major symptoms of H1N1 are fever and cough. For more information about this protocol and the signs and symptoms of H1N1 please go to the Marietta College web site:
www.marietta.edu/Student_Life/Living_on_Campus/Safety/H1N1_info.html.

Marietta officials are following CDC guidelines and have asked all students who have flu symptoms to remain isolated in their room for 24 to 48 hours even after their symptoms clear. A vaccine for H1N1 is not expected to arrive on campus until November.

Other steps to take are:

• Contact the Student Health Center at (740) 373-0792 and follow their instructions. Health Center hours are: 3-6 p.m. (Monday-Wednesday), 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Thursday) and 12:30-3:30 p.m. (Friday).
• The Health Center has a waiver form that allows the students to either give permission for the Center to contact the Office of Student Life or prohibit them from doing so. If Student Life is made aware of the illness a representative can then contact the ill student’s professors to confirm an excused absence, as well as make sure the ill student is receiving food and other care each day.
• You can also individually contact the Office of Student Life at ext. 4736 to be excused from class and to also arrange for food and fluids to be delivered to your residence hall. The College will also provide you with a means of taking your temperature, that needs to be reported daily to Linda See in Student Life at ext. 4736, while you are isolated in your room.
• Identify a “Buddy” who will check on you each day:
— Go to the store for you for supplies and medications
— Be sure that you have food and water
— Deliver class assignments